In a continuous bid to curb the menace of piracy as well as reduce the sale of pornographic and unclassified movies in the State, the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board recently clamped down on sellers of pirated and unclassified films in some parts of Lagos.
Speaking on the raid, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board, Mr. Bamidele Balogun, said the raid was part of the continuous effort to rid the State of the sale of pirated and unclassified movies as well as violators of film production regulation.
According to him, “The sale of pirated DVDs has become a thriving and lucrative business in major parts of the State. The reality is that some people invested in producing films but in most cases, they don’t break even as a result of intellectual property theft. We are concerned as a government and we intend to eradicate this devious scheme”.
Mr. Balogun maintained that intellectual property theft is the greatest enemy of the creative industries which must be defeated in order for the film industry as well as legitimate practitioners to develop and thrive.
The Executive Secretary explained that the week-long raid, which was carried out in collaboration with some reconnaissance, groups covered eight local government areas including Oshodi-Isolo, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Agege, Kosofe, Lagos Island, Surulere and Mushin.
He said the operation resulted in the arrest of 30 traders and items confiscated included production equipment, DVD’s, CDs, unclassified local films as well as pornographic materials, asserting that those arrested during the raids will be made to face the law.
While calling on Nigerian artistes to work with government institutions to wage war against piracy, Balogun praised the effort of various bodies in the film industry in the State for reposing confidence in the Agency in regards to the clampdown.
It would be recalled that the Association of Movie Content Owners and Producers/Distributors of Nigeria had written to the State Government to assist the Association in curbing the menace of piracy in the movie industry citing specific areas where the practice was prevalent.
The Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board was established by law in August 2004 to regulate and control cinematograph and similar exhibitions in the State.
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