Speaker: Prof. Bankole Sodipo (Professor of Law, Babcock University Nigeria (Former dean), visiting scholar, QMUL, visiting fellow British Institute of International and Comparative Law, partner, G.O. Sodipo & Co (Barrister, Solicitors and Arbitrators, Nigeria)

Chaired by: Dr Gaetano Dimita (Deputy Director, Queen Mary Intellectual Property Research Institute)

Nigeria’s music industry is re-emerging on the international scene with the return of international music labels signing Nigerian artists. There is growing international collaboration between local and foreign stars. Nigerian music is having a noticeable share of international airwaves, nightclubs, hotels, and the like. Nollywood, Nigeria’s film industry is blossoming on the world stage. It is the third largest film industry in the world with a recent Oscar nomination and international distribution on Netflix, airlines and other platforms. Are these developments creating sustainable wealth?

This lecture will outline recent growth in Nigeria’s music and film industries. Though Nigerian music and film are exportable commodity, the lecture will identify incentives that are presently lacking but must be available to make Nigeria a good destination for international film and music collaboration. For instance, is there any co-production treaties in Nigeria? The sharing formula for theatrical gate takings and telephone music distribution will be examined. The lecture will highlight challenges posed by gaps in intellectual property and allied rights including privacy and personality rights, to online and other business trends.

Room 3.1, Centre For Commercial Law Studies

67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields

London

WC2A

Registration: 5.45pm CCLS Reception

Lecture: 6pm

Drinks reception: 8pm

Nigerian Music and Nollywood Industries: The Blackhole in the Law Widens