The Nigerian film and media industry is a rapidly growing industry that has contributed significantly to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry is plagued by several challenges, one of which is finance. However, there are several mechanisms for financing the film industry in Nigeria, such as government and private institutions’ grants/loans, private equity, and contributions from members and friends.
In August 2023, the Nigerian film industry experienced a remarkable surge in box office revenue, with a 25% increase compared to the previous month. The Cinema Association of Nigeria reported total earnings of N603 million from ticket sales across the country, up from N482.5 million in July
The Nigerian film and media industry, like any other industry, requires legal services to ensure that the rights of all parties involved are protected and that the industry operates within the confines of the law. According to an article on Unilag Law Review, entertainment law is a demanding career that involves the sound knowledge of contract law, corporate law, finance, tort, bankruptcy law, immigration, tax law, insurance law, labour law, intellectual property law and applying the principles to the interactions between players in the entertainment industry. Lawyers in this practice area help to structure, negotiate and execute arrangements of agreements for a wide variety of industry participants.
Legal issues may arise in all stages of the creation of original works of entertainment. They move from the production stage, where formal contracts are drawn to set forth the respective rights of the parties involved in entertainment work, to the licensing and distribution stage. Legal issues may also arise from seemingly trivial matters such as copyright infringement or breach of contract.
In Nigeria, intellectual property laws form the foundation of the legal framework for the media and entertainment industry because most media and entertainment activities are intellectual property related. Lawyers play a crucial role in ensuring that these laws are adhered to and that creators’ rights are protected.
In summary, lawyers play an important role in ensuring that the Nigerian film and media industry operates within legal boundaries and that all parties involved are protected.
If you are a film and media lawyer or stakeholder in Nigeria, you might be interested in the Entertainment and Sports Law Mastery Training. This training is designed to provide lawyers with a clear mastery of the entertainment industry and how to take advantage of the opportunities therein. The training will cover topics such as music contracts and agreements, film and media agreements, art law, talent acquisition and management, licensing and intellectual property law, and sports law.
The training will take place on 28th & 29th September, 2023 at NECA House, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. The training will be held from 9am to 5pm daily. The registration fee for the physical session is 60,000 Naira or 45,000 Naira (early bird) if you register before 15th September, 2023. For the virtual session, the registration fee is 50,000 Naira or 35,000 Naira (early bird) if you register before 15th September, 2023.
Interested parties can register here https://linktr.ee/Lawlexis
This training promises to be a practical session and lawyers on all levels are welcome to register. For more information or to register for the training, please contact Lawlexis on 09029755663 or email them at lawlexisinternational@gmail.com