Famous Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost the rights to the Netflix original series “Shanty Town” to Chineye “Chi Chi” Nworah.
The Nigerian Trademark Registry and the Nigerian Copyright Commission decided against Ini Edo, providing a huge legal win for the director and her production firm GCM Giant Creative Media Limited.
This comes after a string of court cases started by Ini Edo and Minnie Empire Productions Limited (MEP), who sought to establish their ownership of the “Shanty Town” trademarks and copyrights.
On January 10, 2024, the Trademark Registry denied Ini Edo and MEP’s petition over the trademarks “Shanty Town” (NG/TM/O/2023/97482) and “Scar” (NG/TM/O/2023/121745). The Trademark Registry ruled that the case lacked foundation and substance and established Nworah’s sole ownership of these rights.
In a different decision made on July 24, 2024, the NCC denied a request made by Ini Edo and MEP to revoke two copyright certificates that had been granted to Chinenye Nworah for the audiovisual work “Shanty Town” (Certificate Number CF1448) and the literary work “Shanty Town” (Certificate Number LW10177).
The NCC confirmed Mrs. Nworah’s legitimate ownership of these copyrights by finding no justification for the cancellation and upholding the validity of the certificates.
Chinenye Nworah and GCM Giant Creative Media Limited were able to secure these results thanks in large part to the legal team of Olisa Agbakoba Legal.
The six-part criminal drama “Shanty Town,” which debuted on January 20, 2023, quickly became well-known thanks to its impressive cast, which included Ali Nuhu, Nancy Isime, Shaffy Bello, Richard Mofe-Damijo, Nse Ikpe-Etim, Chidi Mokeme, and Ini Edo.
