Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost her bid to claim ownership rights of the popular Netflix series “Shanty Town” to filmmaker Chinenye Nworah.
In January 2024, Edo and her company, Minini Empire Productions Limited (MEP), filed a legal challenge against Nworah and GCM, seeking to assert their rights over the trademarks and copyrights related to the series.
However, both the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and the Nigerian Trademark Registry have ruled against Edo, dismissing the petition as frivolous and lacking merit. The NCC also rejected Edo and MEP’s request to annul two copyright certificates awarded to Nworah for “Shanty Town”—one for the literary work (Certificate Number LW10177) and another for the audiovisual work (Certificate Number CF1448).
In response to the ruling, Nworah’s lawyer, Olisa Agbakoba, stated: “The successful defense of these claims highlights the importance of protecting creative works and ensuring fair compensation for artists.”
