Charles Novia sues Ghanaian cable channel for $1m

• Tweet
• Pin It

Popular Nollywood Film Producer, Charles Novia has resolved to sue a Ghanaian based cable channel, Viasat One, for $1m.

Charles Novia of November Productions is suing for an infringement on his company’s copyright by Viasat One after broadcasting Atlanta, a 26 episode comedy series owned by the production company.

Charles through his lawyers claim the drama was illegally broadcasted on Viasat channel with no documented permission or contract from November Productions.

According to a statement by Charles Novia, ‘I was surprised when a friend called me from Ghana to praise the production values of the episode being shown. Upon enquiry as to where he watched the episode, knowing that it finished its territorial run on Nigerian terrestrial television a few months ago, I was told it has been showing on Viasat One since late 2012! Shocked, I got the company’s contact details and called their line. I was politely rebuffed even when I identified myself as the genuine Producer and copyright owner of the series being broadcast illegally. I was told that a so-called ‘agent’ gave them the series which they acquired. They refused to tell me more than that and stopped short of telling me to go to hell. 

“Being a strong advocate of anti-piracy laws in Nigeria and Africa as well as a copyright rights activist, this is a clear case of an abuse of my intellectual copyright by a major African company and I will not take it lying low. My lawyers have been briefed and are instituting a criminal case of copyright infringement in a few hours against the company. All the relevant copyright and legal organisations in Nigeria and Ghana have been sent letters informing them of this anomal,” the statement reads.

Source: Momo

• Tweet
• Pin It