Film Makers Express Total Support for AVRS in Asaba & Benin

The recent public outcry against movie piracy may have triggered a resurgence of interest in the protection of intellectual property among film makers across the country who turned out in exceptionally large numbers at the stakeholders’ sensitization forum recently organized by Audio-Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS) respectively in Asaba, Delta State capital, and the ancient city of Benin, Edo State.

Recall that following its approval by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in November 2014 as the nation’s sole Collective Management Organization for audio-visual works, AVRS had kick-started its enlightenment campaign activities in February 2015 with  Stakeholders’ Forum in Lagos to enlighten stakeholders in the film industry on the purpose, nature and operations of AVRS, as well as their rights and obligations to the Society, with a view to establishing cordial working relationships with various stakeholders in the film industry.

Chosen for their reputation as active movie production hubs in the South East and South-South axis, the Asaba Forum attracted film makers from Enugu, Onitsha, Owerri, Umuahia and Aba, while Benin had participants from Agbor, Warri, Ekpoma and Port Harcourt in attendance.

Addressing the Forum at the prestigious Orchid Hotel, Asaba, Chairman of AVRS, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun traced the long and painstaking process of the formation of AVRS and various activities leading to its approval on November 20, 2014 by the Nigerian Copyright Commission.

The Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Richard Mofe Damijo who graced the event, expressed happiness that despite the initial delays in registration and approval, AVRS had finally commenced operations. He described the Society as “an idea whose time has come and the beginning of a new journey towards a greater tomorrow in the audio-visual industry”.

A director of AVRS and erstwhile president of Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Mr. Emmanuel Isikaku bemoaned the apathetic disposition of some stakeholders towards embracing new ideas. He made it clear that AVRS had become, in its short period of operations, the rallying point for stakeholders in the fight against movie piracy, and enjoined everyone to support the Society to achieve her objectives.

In his own remarks, Onitsha based film producer and marketer and director of AVRS, Chief Osita Okeke (Ossy Afasson) reminded his colleagues from the South-East that their failure over the years to come out and participate fully in the activities of the movie industry had given their counterparts in Lagos an edge, making the industry appear more like a Lagos affair. He appealed to them to have a change of attitude or lose their benefits, as their laid-back posture would not stop initiatives like AVRS from thriving. Other directors of AVRS who spoke in similar manner were Mr. Andy Amenechi and Mr. Patrick Doyle who anchored the event.

General Manager of AVRS, Eme Akiba-Eyo, stressed the need for stakeholders to become registered members and assignees of the Society. Displaying samples of the AVRS membership application form, work declaration form and deed of assignment, she made it clear that ownership of audio-visual content or rights did not confer automatic membership of AVRS on any stakeholder. In her words, “It is very important for a right owner to fill the membership application form which is free, the works declaration form which serves as a proof of content ownership, and the deed of assignment which empowers the Society to represent you, protect your intellectual property rights and ensure that your royalties get to you as and when due”.

 In Benin, the Forum which held on April 23rd, 2015 at the exclusive Prestige Hotel, took a similar pattern. The interactive sessions at both meetings provided stakeholders with the opportunity to express their support for the Society, voice their concerns and seek clarifications from the directors on all grey areas.

Chief Peddy Okao, a director of AVRS who coordinated the Benin forum, enjoined every stakeholder present to take advantage and see the establishment of AVRS as additional revenue stream source. He opined that AVRS will use every means at its disposal to collect and distribute to its members revenue that had been hitherto inaccessible by right owners.

Clarifications were given by the General Manager on the role of AVRS as a collecting society serving as a middleman between the right owners and the users of their works on different platforms exploitation. She stressed that AVRS is the only body that is licensed to collect and distribute royalties in the audio visual sector.

The stakeholders expressed total support for AVRS and thanked the Nigerian Copyright Commission, Nigerian Film Corporation, World Intellectual Property Organization and the Norwegian Copyright Development Organization for the roles they played towards the establishment of the Society.

The Asaba and Benin meetings recorded remarkable participation by members of relevant Nollywood guilds and associations including the Film and Video Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria (FVPMAN), Directors’ Guild of Nigeria (DGN), Actors’ Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and the Screen Writers Guild of Nigeria. With more than 350 persons in attendance, prominent Nollywood personalities present at both meetings included Kenneth Izuogu, Chief Fabian Dim, Iyke Odife, Jerry Amillio, George Edmond, Ugezu J. Ugezu, Henry Legema, Ifeanyi Azodo, Iyen Agbonifo, Young Emiko, Dom Onu, Leo Ewuzie, Chimdi Chiama, Osagie Ezekiel, Emma Odeli, Akachukwu Ibe, Emeka Iwemba and Ogonna Mbonu. Others are Baba Cliff, West Osasuyi, Eunice Omoregie, Amen Imasuen and Democracy Omoregie.

The interactive sessions at both meetings provided stakeholders with the opportunity to express their support for AVRS, voice their concerns and seek clarifications from the directors in areas such as assignment of rights, licensing and reciprocal agreements.

With the Lagos, Asaba and Benin Stakeholders’ Fora concluded, it is expected that the AVRS sensitization train would be heading to Kano, Abuja, Jos and other significant movie production hubs across the country.