Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost her bid to secure ownership rights of the popular Netflix series “Shanty Town” to filmmaker Chinenye Nworah.
In January 2024, Ini Edo and her company, Minini Empire Productions Limited (MEP), filed a legal challenge against Nworah and GCM, presenting a dual intellectual property claim. The petition aimed to establish ownership over the trademarks and copyrights linked to the hit series.
However, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Trademark Registry ruled against Ini Edo, dismissing her petition as frivolous and without merit. Additionally, the NCC declined Edo and MEP’s request to revoke two copyright certificates previously granted to Nworah for “Shanty Town” — one for the literary work (Certificate Number LW10177) and the other for the audiovisual work (Certificate Number CF1448).
Following the decision, Nworah’s lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, remarked: “This successful defense underscores the importance of protecting creative works and ensuring that artists receive fair compensation.”