Popular Nigerian actress and filmmaker Ini Edo has lost the rights to the hit Netflix series ‘Shanty Town’ in a legal dispute with fellow filmmaker Chinenye Nworah.
In January 2024, Ini Edo and her company, Minini Empire Productions Limited (MEP), filed a dual intellectual property claim against Chinenye Nworah and her production company, Giant Creative Media Limited (GCM), seeking ownership of the trademarks and copyrights associated with the series.
In a significant legal win for Chinenye Nworah and her production company, Giant Creative Media Limited (GCM), the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Trademark Registry have ruled against Ini Edo in a dispute over the Netflix series ‘Shanty Town.’ The regulatory bodies dismissed Ini Edo’s claims, labeling them as frivolous and lacking merit.
The NCC also rejected Ini Edo and Minini Empire Productions Limited’s (MEP) request to cancel two copyright certificates issued to Nworah. These certificates pertain to the literary work “Shanty Town” (Certificate Number LW10177) and the audiovisual work “Shanty Town” (Certificate Number CF1448).
Following this legal victory, Nworah’s lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, emphasized that the successful defense underscores the importance of safeguarding creative works and ensuring that artists receive fair compensation for their contributions.
‘Shanty Town,’ a six-part crime thriller that debuted on January 20, 2023, quickly gained popularity. The series features a star-studded cast, including Chidi Mokeme, Ini Edo, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Sola Sobowale, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, and Ali Nuhu.
