Nollywood Producers Join Global Effort To Tackle Digital Copyright Theft

Nollywood producers have officially joined forces with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in a sweeping international campaign to combat the growing threat of digital copyright theft.

At a high-level stakeholder meeting held at the Bank of Industry Tower in Abuja, the Association of Movie Producers of Nigeria (AMP) threw its weight behind a WIPO-supported project to disrupt online piracy and strengthen copyright protection across Africa’s digital landscape. Nigeria is one of only four countries on the continent selected for this flagship initiative.

The project is designed to tackle online copyright infringement through legislative reform, enforcement training, public education, and other critical measures. Nollywood and other creative sectors report mounting financial losses due to the unchecked circulation of pirated content.

Speaking at the launch, the director-general of the NCC, Dr John O. Asein, described the intervention as a timely lifeline for Nigeria’s creative economy.

“By addressing technical and legal gaps, and equipping stakeholders with tools to disrupt piracy, we are safeguarding the future of the creative industry,” he said.

The director of the WIPO Nigeria Office, Dr Oluwatobiloba Moody, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to innovation and economic growth through intellectual property protection.

“This initiative reflects WIPO’s deepening collaboration with Africa and our resolve to uphold the rights of creators in the digital age,” Moody stated.

National president of AMP, Amb. Dr Queen Blessing Ebigieson praised the effort as a game-changer for Nollywood producers who have long endured content theft’s economic and emotional toll.

“This project will give us the tools and partnerships we need to fight back,” she said. She also stressed the importance of ensuring that independent and grassroots filmmakers benefit from the programme’s outreach, not just major studios.

Other highlights of the event included presentations on project design by Dr Tobias Bednarz of WIPO, a briefing on the state of piracy in Nigeria by IP expert Michael Akpan, and a session on digital enforcement strategies led by international consultant Dr Ioannis Kikkis.

With active participation from telecom operators, enforcement agencies, legal practitioners, and industry guilds, the initiative signals a united front against one of Nollywood’s most persistent challenges.

Stakeholders agreed that the time has come to match Nigeria’s digital creativity with robust copyright protection, ensuring that content creators are empowered to earn the full value of their work in a secure and fair digital environment.