Problem and Prospect of Small Scale Business
THE NIGERIAN HOME VIDEO INDUSTRY: A SURVEY OF THE ACTIVITIES OF VIDEO RENTALS AND THE COPYRIGHT LAW
PRESENTED BY
ABDULRAHMAN MALIK
AT THE
WEEKLY SEMINAR ORGANIZED BY
THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT, KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY MALETE
MARCH, 2013
ABSTRACT The Nigerian entertainment industry, particularly the movie sector has been battling with the problem of copyright infringement in the last two decades or more. In spite the legal framework put in place, (i.e. copyright Act 1988 and at its various amendments) to check the activities of copyright violators, the problems persist. The worst hit by this seemingly intractable problem is the video film production industry which is being confronted not only with the problem of piracy but also that of illegal video rental operators activities who are reaping heavily from where they did not sow. This is course, at the expense of film producers, most of whom are only striving to make ends meet in spite of the enormous efforts (material and financial) they regularly put in the production of the movies. This unfortunate situation informed this study which critically looks at the activities of video rental outlet in the context of the provisions of the copyright Act of 1990 and the subsequent 1988 amendment relating specifically to the activities of video rental outlets. The study shows that through while the establishment of video rental outlets is approved by the law, most of the operators, particularly those in Kwara State are not compliant. Similarly, most of the film producers have also failed to comply with the basic provisions of the 1999 copyright amendment Act, thereby making both the video rental operators and the film makers culpable. Thus in ensuring a way forward for the video film industry in Nigeria, this paper suggests that a regime of an effective monitoring of the operations of video rentals and as well as better compliance level of the film makers with the provisions of the act.
PRESENTED BY
ABDULRAHMAN MALIK
AT THE
WEEKLY SEMINAR ORGANIZED BY
THE PERFORMING AND VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT, KWARA STATE UNIVERSITY MALETE
MARCH, 2013
ABSTRACT The Nigerian entertainment industry, particularly the movie sector has been battling with the problem of copyright infringement in the last two decades or more. In spite the legal framework put in place, (i.e. copyright Act 1988 and at its various amendments) to check the activities of copyright violators, the problems persist. The worst hit by this seemingly intractable problem is the video film production industry which is being confronted not only with the problem of piracy but also that of illegal video rental operators activities who are reaping heavily from where they did not sow. This is course, at the expense of film producers, most of whom are only striving to make ends meet in spite of the enormous efforts (material and financial) they regularly put in the production of the movies. This unfortunate situation informed this study which critically looks at the activities of video rental outlet in the context of the provisions of the copyright Act of 1990 and the subsequent 1988 amendment relating specifically to the activities of video rental outlets. The study shows that through while the establishment of video rental outlets is approved by the law, most of the operators, particularly those in Kwara State are not compliant. Similarly, most of the film producers have also failed to comply with the basic provisions of the 1999 copyright amendment Act, thereby making both the video rental operators and the film makers culpable. Thus in ensuring a way forward for the video film industry in Nigeria, this paper suggests that a regime of an effective monitoring of the operations of video rentals and as well as better compliance level of the film makers with the provisions of the act.
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