Nollywood actress, Iniobong Edo Ekim popularly known as Ini Edo has lost the ownership of Netflix original, ‘Shanty Town’ to Nigerian filmmaker and producer, Chinenye Nworah popularly known as Chi Chi.
Gatekeepers New reports that Nigerian Trademark Registry and Nigerian Copyright Commission ruled in support of Chi Chi and her production company GCM Giant Creative Media Limited.
This follows a series of legal battles initiated by Ini Edo and Minnie Empire Productions Limited (MEP), who attempted to claim ownership of the trademarks and copyrights associated with ‘Shanty Town.’
Trademark Registry rejected Ini Edo and MEP’s petition regarding trademarks ‘Scar’ NG/TM/O/2023/121745 and ‘Shanty Town’ NG/TM/O/2023/97482 on January 10, 2024, declaring the petition baseless and without merit, and confirming Nworah’s exclusive ownership of these trademarks.
In a different ruling delivered on July 24, 2024, NCC dismissed a petition filed by Ini Edo and MEP concerning cancellation of two copyright certificates issued to Chinenye Nworah for literary work “Shanty Town” (Certificate Number LW10177) and audiovisual work “Shanty Town” (Certificate Number CF1448).
NCC found no legal grounds for the cancellation and upheld the validity of certificates, thereby confirmed Chi Chi’s rightful ownership of these copyrights.
