In a move to confront the growing issues of piracy, MultiChoice, the leading entertainment business in Africa, organized an anti-piracy roundtable event entitled “Piracy Untells Our Stories.”
According to the event organizers, the objective is to promote cooperation among significant players, devise tactics, and provide solutions in the continuous fight against content theft and its detrimental effects on industries, leading to income and employment losses.
The event held on November 22nd in Lagos and moderated by ARISE News Anchor Ojy Okpe, promoted deep conversations, information exchange, and the creation of practical defences against digital piracy.
The Executive Head of Content and West Africa Channels at MultiChoice West Africa, Dr. Busola Tejumola, stressed the necessity of holding an event of this kind with the goals of knowledge sharing, fostering industry player collaboration, discussing and developing initiatives to raise public awareness about the consequences of content piracy and the significance of supporting legitimate content because content piracy is a shared problem.
She said, “As we navigate the complex landscape of digital content distribution, it is imperative that we unite against the common threat of piracy. Piracy takes away all that a producer has worked for. Our event signifies a commitment to collaborative efforts, where industry leaders come together to share insights, develop strategies, and fortify our defences against content theft. I urge everyone to join the fight against piracy. Together, we can ensure a vibrant and sustainable future for the creative industry.”
Victor Okhai, President of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, said during the panel discussion that effective communication was essential in the battle against piracy.
He went on to say that “The biggest challenge with fighting piracy is that we do not communicate in the language that the common man understands. I think the messaging from the Nigerian Copyright Commission and concerned bodies have to be tailored to the audience.”
Intellectual property expert and lawyer, Obafemi Agaba, reaffirmed that one of the most important tactics in the battle against piracy is being aware of the threat posed by it, saying, “We need to let people understand the danger piracy causes to talent. MultiChoice and other relevant parties need to advocate for funding of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in the fight against piracy.
Other prominent panelists included Slum King producer Chinenye Nworah and Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director, Operations, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Lagos.
With its innovative campaign, ‘Piracy Untells Our Stories,’ MultiChoice recently won the prestigious Promax Awards 2023. Over the past 20 years, the company has invested over $85 million in local content, giving young creators opportunities to support themselves. However, the company claims that this investment is at risk due to the detrimental effects of piracy.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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