Piracide: killing piracy before it kills the Nigerian film industry

Abstract

Pesticides are chemical combinations used to eliminate pests from plants and crops. 'Piracide' is a similar tool, only that piracide targets piracy which has the power to cripple any work of creativity, this time, the Nigerian Film Industry. Therefore, Piracide aims at crippling piracy before it cripples the Nigerian Film economy. This paper traces the history of the Nigerian Film Industry and uses it to investigate the entry of piracy into the Industry. We discover that piracy was innocently welcomed by the Nigerian cinema audience during the post-independence days. Now it has spread its roots deep in the Nigeria Film Industry. Infact, piracy has become a culture that Nigerians have come to get used to, both the elite and the non-elite. It has become a visitor turned landlord. This discourages investment in movies as the gross profit and box office success of films turns out lower than it should be. This paper examines the current trends of film distribution in Nollywood and also attempts to initiate an alternative means of film distribution and exhibition. It also emphasises the need to take innovative steps to ensure that the new trend becomes ingrained in the laws of the land, and the psyche of the people. It also suggests that an inter-agency task force should be put in place solely to monitor, investigate and prosecute culprits of Film Piracy. The authorities should also partner with novel digital forms like YouTube and other popular video-streaming sites to enforce proper regulations and profit-sharing system.