Nollywood Actor Femi Adebayo Wins N25 Million Copyright Battle Against Piracy

A significant legal victory has been achieved by Nollywood actor Femi Adebayo, as he wins a case against piracy of his film ‘Survival of Jelili‘ and ‘Kodi Ologbon Aye’. The Lagos High Court awarded him a sum of N25 million in damages for the unauthorized use of his intellectual property.

‘Survival of Jelili’, released in December 2019, features notable actors like Desmond Elliot, Toyin Abraham, and Dele Odule. The film narrates the story of a young man, Jelili, as he navigates through various career paths in a bid to improve his social status.

The piracy battle initiated in March 2021 when Femi Adebayo took legal action against Murphy Ben International for copyright infringement. The case involved the unauthorized use of his movies by the YouTube channel ‘Aforefo TV’ that resulted in financial losses for the actor.

According to Femi Adebayo, copyright infringement and piracy pose significant threats to the Nigerian creative industry, especially Nollywood. The lack of adequate protection for intellectual property rights hinders the industry’s growth and profitability, deterring potential investors.

The legal victory signifies a major breakthrough in the fight against piracy in the Nigerian film industry. Femi Adebayo expressed gratitude to his legal team, Bola Adebowale & Co. Legal Practitioners, for their dedicated efforts in securing the favorable verdict.

This landmark win not only benefits Femi Adebayo as a filmmaker but also sets a precedent for combating intellectual property theft in Nollywood. It underscores the importance of safeguarding creative works to ensure that artists and content producers receive their rightful economic rewards.