Nigeria’s Parliament Reviews Copyright Act to Protect Nollywood

Date: November 2024, ongoing into 2025
Nigeria’s National Assembly is reviewing amendments to the Copyright Act to bolster protections for the country’s film industry, Nollywood, which faces significant losses due to piracy. The proposed changes, debated in late 2024, aim to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and align with international treaties like the WIPO Copyright Treaty. IPLA has been instrumental in facilitating dialogues between parliamentarians and creative industry stakeholders, advocating for laws that safeguard Nigeria’s $7 billion film sector.

The review follows a 2024 WIPO roundtable where IPLA highlighted Nollywood’s need for robust IP frameworks. Parliamentary committees are prioritizing anti-piracy measures and royalty collection systems, with draft legislation expected to be tabled in mid-2025. This effort reflects broader African parliamentary interest in leveraging IP for economic growth, as emphasized at the 5th All Africa IP Summit in Kigali (November 2024).
Source: LawTeacher.net, November 6, 2023; Africa.com, July 22, 2024