Filmmakers meet to discuss copyright issues

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November 21, 2016 3:29 PM

The session was aimed at sensitizing the industry in general on the necessity of trade-marking creative idea.

The 6th edition of Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) put together a session on Copyright Education.

The session was aimed at sensitizing filmmakers, enthusiasts and the industry in general on the necessity of trade-marking creative ideas and trading them in order to take full advantage of their potential.

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The session which held at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, Lekki, started out by creating a better understanding of copyright in general and how it relates to the business of film making, taking into consideration the key role of digital distribution in today’s business model.

The session was facilitated by Isioma Idigbe, a legal practitioner at the law firm, Punuka. She is also a film enthusiast and sales/acquisitions consultant with knowledge in distribution.

Idigbe had an interactive session with participants in which she carefully laid out the necessary facts needed for both seasoned and budding filmmakers that would ascertain their safety in the field.

“Copyright is only protected when it is expressed. To continue to possess a trademarked idea and prevent it from entering the public domain where it is no longer exclusively owned, there has to be a continuous resuscitation of that idea in order to fully maximize its prospects,” she said.

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Among the industry stakeholders at the conference was Chairman of G-Media, Gab Okoye, aka Gabosky; Francis Onwochie, a member of Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria, Chinedu Chukwuji, General Manager of Copyrights Society of Nigeria (COSON), filmmaker and media entrepreneur, Charles Novia and Mykel Parish, President of African Film Consortium (AFC).

Closing the session, a case study was brought up to confirm a complete public understanding of the topic of discussion in which participants were duly tested.

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The annual Africa International Film Festival (AFRIFF) kicked off its sixth year of cinematic celebration with Nate Parker's "Birth of a Nation."

It ended the festival with Izu Ojukwu's "76" on Friday, November 18, 2016 at FilmhouseIMAX Cinema, Lekki, Lagos.

The festival's Globe Awards held on Saturday, November 19, 2016, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.

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