Popular Nollywood actress Ini Edo has lost a legal fight against filmmaker Chineye ‘Chi Chi’ Nworah over the ownership of the Netflix original series ‘Shanty Town.’

The Nigerian Trademark Registry and the Nigerian Copyright Commission have both ruled in favor of Nworah.

The decisions mark a significant win for Nworah and her production company, GCM Giant Creative Media Limited.

Ini Edo, along with Minnie Empire Productions Limited (MEP), had filed legal actions claiming ownership of the trademarks and copyrights related to ‘Shanty Town.’

The Trademark Registry rejected Ini Edo and MEP’s request for trademarks ‘Scar’ NG/TM/O/2023/121745 and ‘Shanty Town’ NG/TM/O/2023/97482 on January 10, 2024. The registry found their petition baseless and confirmed Nworah’s exclusive rights to these trademarks.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission also ruled against Ini Edo and MEP on July 24, 2024. They had sought to cancel two copyright certificates awarded to Nworah for ‘Shanty Town’ – one for the literary work (Certificate Number LW10177) and one for the audiovisual work (Certificate Number CF1448). The NCC found no legal reason to cancel these certificates and upheld Nworah’s copyrights.

Olisa Agbakoba Legal (OAL), Nworah’s legal team, played a key role in these victories. The firm’s efforts highlight its commitment to protecting the rights of creators and companies involved in intellectual property disputes.

The rulings confirm Chinenye Nworah’s rightful ownership of the intellectual property related to ‘Shanty Town’ and underline the importance of safeguarding creative works and ensuring fair compensation for artists.