In a landmark decision, the Nigerian Trademark Registry (NTR) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have officially recognized filmmaker Chichi Nworah as the sole proprietor of the popular movie series Shanty Town. This ruling affirms the claims made by Nworah and her production company, Giant Creative Media Limited, regarding the ownership of the series’ trademarks and copyrights.
According to a statement released by Olisa Agbakoba Legal, Nworah’s legal representatives, the recent decision marks a significant triumph for the filmmaker and her company. The NTR and NCC concluded that both the trademarks and copyrights associated with Shanty Town are exclusively owned by Nworah and Giant Creative Media Limited. This ruling came after a protracted legal dispute initiated by Ini Edo, one of the film’s lead actors, and Minnie Empire Productions Limited, who had sought to assert their ownership rights over the series.
The NTR’s decision, made public on January 10, 2024, included a rejection of a petition by Edo and MEP concerning the ‘Scar’ character—a key antagonist in the series. The NTR found the petition to be without merit and upheld Nworah’s exclusive rights to the trademark related to the character. Similarly, the NCC validated the copyrights held by Nworah, dismissing any grounds for their cancellation.
The controversy began shortly after the release of Shanty Town, when Edo publicly claimed co-production status alongside Nworah. Despite this, official credits listed Edo as an executive producer and Nworah as both the executive producer and producer. This discrepancy led to a legal challenge by Edo, disputing Nworah’s sole ownership of the series.
With this decisive ruling, Nworah and Giant Creative Media Limited have reinforced their position as the rightful owners of Shanty Town, ensuring the protection of their intellectual property against unwarranted claims.