Pirates cash in as Nollywood counts losses
The article “Pirates cash in as Nollywood counts losses” (BusinessDay NG, Sept 19, 2025) discusses the severe impact of piracy and intellectual property theft on Nigeria’s film industry (Nollywood).
It explains that many filmmakers have suffered huge financial losses as their work is illegally copied, distributed, or monetized without consent. Some producers claim entire investments can vanish shortly after a film’s completion, thanks to rampant piracy. For example, a 2007 study by a UK-based firm (Agape Solicitors) estimated that international piracy had cost Nollywood ₦120 billion.
Because of these losses, many film businesses are being forced to shut down. The article notes that filmmakers are calling for reforms in Nigeria’s intellectual property (IP) laws to better protect creators and reduce the dominance of pirate operators.
