Plans are underway in the Nigeria movie industry, popularly known as Nollywood, to set up a collection and management organisation to enable actors receive royalties for the use of their films.
According to Mr. Ifeanyi Dike, chairman of the board of trustees of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, actors in the industry had seen the need to have a collection society and that this realization is what has given rise to current efforts being made to actualize the establishment of the body.
Before now, films produced through the hard work of actors and film makers are used freely, mostly by television stations, without any corresponding royalty. But with the establishment of this new body, actors and movie makers would begin to receive royalties for commercial use of their films.
Speaking to newsmen, Dike had commended the efforts the Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON, which he pointed out, has so far made it possible for musicians to receive royalties.
“Protecting rights of creators in the country has been a constant battle, but it will work. Nigerians in various fields are on a daily basis trying to put in their quota to improve the economy and other sectors to meet international standards,” he said.
He however condemned the habit of some artistes who give their original work to pirates to mix with works of other artistes, adding that such practice contributes to the problem of copyright infringement.
His words: “These artistes give their work to pirates to mix with that of other artistes. That is why we see up to 30 songs or movies in one CD.”