Hi-Buzz Limited (Highway Distribution), distributor of the award winning film, The Figurine (Araromire) has stepped up action to protect the movie from the pirates with its recent raid, in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) of shops in the Alaba International Market, Lagos.
The market is dubbed as the hub of piracy activities in the West African sub region.
Last month, Hi-Buzz Limited (Highway Distribution) sent a petition to the Lagos Office of the Copyright Commission with respect to The Figurine. Another petition also came from Sun-Tab Film Nigeria Limited in respect of its film, Eti Keta already being pirated and sold in some shops at Alaba market. The pirated and original copies of the said work were sent alongside the petition, the commission said in a memo.
The officials of the commission swung into action and carried out long hours of surveillance followed by a test purchase of the said work to confirm the actual shops where the sales were being made.
Subsequently, the NCC Lagos Office conducted an anti-piracy raid on the said shops at Alaba Market. In all, about 11 shops were raided and exhibits impounded. Investigations is still on-going, inventory been done and all machineries put in place in case any of the shop owners of the affected shops shows up for claims or complaint. The rights owners have stated that they will continue with the action until the piracy of their works are eliminated. Plans are underway to arrest the owners of the shops.
A statement by Hi-Buzz reiterated its resolve to see the infringers of The Figurine brought to book. The vibrant young distribution company also thanked the NCC for being proactive in this issue. “For us at Hi-Buzz, we are committed to protecting the works we distribute because that is the gain of someone’s labour and it is also business for us too, so in collaboration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission, we will hunt and arrest any infringer of The Figurine anywhere in the country, wherever he is hiding to carry out the nefarious activity.”
The market association in Alaba is working with The Figurine distributor and the government agency saddled with copyright protection. “The market association is very cooperative and they are equally miffed that such act of piracy is going on in Alaba after they have assured government of the cooperation in the fight against piracy. The owners of the shops are on the run but the association’s executive has assured that they will assist the police in apprehending the suspects.”
The original DVD of The Figurine comes with almost four hours of content including the two-hour movie and additional features such as The Making and Deleted Scenes. It’s available at retail stores all over the country, the Hub Media Store in The Palms and Silverbird Galleria and is also available on the streets.
The Figurine (Araromire) movie won five AMAA awards in 2010 including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Lead Role, Best Heart of Africa Film, Best Visual Effects and Best Cinematography. It was official selections of Rotterdam International Film Festival, New York Africa Film Festival and FESPACO. The movie got an honorary mention at the Pan African Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA.
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