Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost her claim over the popular Netflix series Shanty Town to acclaimed filmmaker Chinenye Nworah.
The Nigerian Trademark Registry (NTR) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have ruled in favor of Nworah, rejecting Edo’s claims of ownership.
Ini Edo and her production company, Minini Empire Productions Limited (MEP), had been engaged in a legal battle with Nworah and her company, Giant Creative Media Limited (GCM), over the rights to Shanty Town.
The dispute, which began early this year, centered around ownership of the series’ trademarks and copyrights.
The Nigerian Trademark Registry, responsible for managing trademarks in Nigeria, dismissed Edo’s petition regarding the trademarks “SCAR” and “SHANTY TOWN” on January 10, 2024.
The registry declared that Edo’s claims were baseless and confirmed that Nworah holds exclusive ownership of these trademarks.
In a separate ruling, the NCC also sided with Nworah. On July 24, 2024, the commission rejected a petition from Edo and MEP that sought to cancel two copyright certificates issued to Nworah.
These certificates cover the literary work and audiovisual work of Shanty Town. The NCC found no valid grounds for the cancellation and upheld Nworah’s rights to these works.
The legal victory for Nworah has been welcomed by her team. Olisa Agbakoba, whose legal firm Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL) represented Nworah, commented on the outcome.
“The successful defense of these claims highlights the importance of protecting creative works and ensuring fair compensation for artists,” Agbakoba said in a statement.
The legal battle over Shanty Town began in January 2024 when Ini Edo and MEP filed a dual petition against Chinenye Nworah and GCM.
They claimed ownership of the series’ trademarks and copyrights, arguing that they were the rightful holders of these intellectual property rights.
Ini Edo and MEP sought to take control of the trademarks and copyrights associated with the series.
However, both the Trademark Registry and the NCC ruled against them, affirming Nworah’s ownership.
