Nollywood film producers sign anti-piracy pact with Ugandan movie industry

The Association of Nollywood Core Producers (ANCOP), has signed an agreement with the Uganda Federation of Movie Industry (UFMI) and the Uganda Film Publishers Guild, in order to intensify the battle against mass piracy of Nigerian movies in Uganda.

Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, is one of the fastest growing film sectors in the world. However, their development is being sabotaged by unprecedented DVD piracy. The popularity of illegal copies is not only damaging Nigerian film, the effects of this spoilt market are also felt in neighbouring countries, like Uganda.

According to ANCOP president, many Ugandans prefer to watch Nigerian movies to their own local movies, as Nigerian films are pirated in Uganda at no cost. Nollywood films, he disclosed, are sold on the streets of Kampala for less than $1. “Even 20-in- one DVDs are sold for less than $1.” he added. Ugandan film makers are seriously lamenting the influx of Nigerian films in their country, alleging that the pirated films are killing their own film industry.

The MoU, signed on the 30th of June in Kampala, is designed to be a reciprocal agreement, according to the leader of the delegation, Mr. Alex Eyengho. Nigerian film makers, he said are equally duty-bound to protect any Ugandan film that is illegally smuggled into the country. Dr. N’subuga Eddie, the UFMI chairman said “we want our industry to grow, that's why we are working with Nigerians because they have a large market here and we also want to penetrate their market.

Mr. Eyengho said that the agreement is geared towards promoting and protecting the intellectual property of both countries. He added that the agreement also allows for co-production, through initiating of training and retraining programmes that will benefit both countries. The first measures that is taken under this agreement is to attach "security stickers" to all official movies as a way of differentiating original from the pirated copies. This may raise awareness of the scope of the market for fake products in West Africa.

Eyengho advised other Nollywood film makers to support the project, stressing that “it's time, we start cooperating and networking because no one guild alone can solve all the problems that are confronting the industry. When one association brings something good to the industry, other guilds should learn to key into the project.”

References: ModernGhana.com;  Naijafeed.com; WN.com; Finding Nollywood

Read more on copyright in Africa on Future of Copyright:

- Piracy reduces market for African productions

- How copyright influences access to knowledge in Africa

- WIPO sets up music rights registry project for Western Africa

- Nollywood threatens with hunger strike because of DVD piracy