Popular nollywood actor in the Yoruba sector, Femi Adebayo has lamented the high rate of film piracy that has plagued the country.

The ‘Jagun Jagun’ star bemoaned this on his Instagram page, where he recounted his challenges and how he overcame movie pirates. He stated that the work of the movie pirates has eaten deep on the profits that many actors and actresses in the entertainment industry are supposed to get.

The actor expressed himself saying;
“The Nigerian film industry has experienced exponential growth over the years, but we haven’t been able to maximise the true dividends of this business because of dare devil pirates who benefit where they didn’t sow.

“This is a major reason why investors find it hard to commit their funds to filmmakers. However, through persistence and the use of the legal framework covering intellectual property, we can bring their activities to a gradual halt.

“Several times, I have been a victim of movie pirates and I never spared them. I recently concluded a legal battle with a notable media company that owns a big radio station and also engages in Youtube content distribution.”

Furthermore, the actor decided to open up on his personal challenge with movie pirates and how he has managed to triumph after many years.

He recounted;
“During the cinema run of “Survival of Jelili” in 2019, my movie was gathering good numbers at that time. They decided to use my movie poster and title to promote a movie on their platform, thereby deceiving fans and diverting revenue accrued to me.

“It took 3 years, but my trust in the legal and justice system remained unwavering. With the dedication of our legal team, Bola Adebowale & Co Legal Practitioners, who are seasoned professionals with wealth of experience in handling such cases.

“They presented undeniable evidence, put up a strong argument, and took the case to trial. Their promptness, efficiency, and attention to detail played a huge part in the direction of the case. We won and were awarded a total of twenty-five five million Naira

This isn’t just my win as a filmmaker and content producer, but a win for all of Nollywood.”

The actor advised other filmmakers to be on the lookout for movie pirates and ensure to bring them to book. He said;

“Every win brings us closer to protecting and getting the true economic value of our works.”