Is There a Silver Lining to Film Piracy? [Video]

In this conversation, we shine a spotlight on the intricate subject of piracy to explore whether there's a case to be made for film piracy in Nigeria.

If you grew up in Nigeria in the 2000s, you likely remember the heydays of VCDs and rental shops, where a trip to the local video store often accompanied the excitement of a new movie release. Fast forward to the post-2010 era, and online downloads and streaming services began to take over, bringing the latest films to our screens. Amidst these changes, one thing has remained constant: the pervasive issue of film piracy. Whether it was buying bootlegged 10-in-1 DVDs from street vendors or downloading the latest blockbuster from a dubious website, the subject of film piracy is one you’re probably all too familiar with.

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“For every legitimate copy of a Nigerian film sold, nine are illicitly pirated.” — World Bank

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A staggering report by the World Bank reveals that “for every legitimate copy of a Nigerian film sold, nine are illicitly pirated.” That’s an alarming number for an industry still viewed by many as nascent. It’s a stark reminder that piracy is not only a crime but is also largely immoral. Everyone deserves full compensation for their work to the last kobo, including filmmakers who put in long hours, blood, and tears to create works for the public’s entertainment. This is inarguable. Still, there’s more to the subject than a simple black-and-white classification; the Nigerian context lies in the expansive grey area, where economic and social factors drive the conversation, especially when trying to understand why piracy continues to thrive even to this day.

A wall poster at the Losing Daylight film exhibition held in Lagos, Nigeria in December 2023 contained this report and other staggering details about piracy. It was what inspired my friends —Onyeka and Chuks— and me to delve into the topic. Although unplanned, the conversation turned out to be insightful. Among the things discussed, the whys, the hows, and possible solutions took center stage.

L-R: Onyeka, Chuks, and Rinzy

The poster fingered the infamous Alaba International Market as the main culprit behind the piracy plague that continues to afflict the Nigerian creative industry. However, we quickly pointed out that the piracy of films in the country has gone beyond the scope of what Alaba used to be known for. Piracy, like a lot of things from the analogue age, has also gone digital to meet the demands of the new world, where the distribution of film content via digital services is now an everyday reality. This set us on the path to addressing more aspects of the subject, including why piracy continues to thrive and possible solutions to tackle it—if tackling it is indeed feasible.

It’s an insightful conversation, if I do say so myself. There’s a nugget and some comic instances for everyone. So, without further ado, check out the conversation as hosted on YouTube below and let me know what you think about the conversation in the comments.

Read about the Intellectual Property Rights for Movie or TV Series HERE.

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Piracy Checklist

I have:

1. Downloaded a movie or TV show from an unauthorized website and shared it with my friends.

2. Streamed from sites or apps that host pirated content

3. Ripped movies or TV shows from DVDs or burned them onto discs without permission

4. Recorded a movie showing in theaters with my camera

5. Knowingly bought fake copies of a film from local vendors

How many of these boxes did you check? If you've done 3 or more out of 5, chances are you once lived the life of a Digital Pirate. Let us know in the comments! 😉🏴‍☠️

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