DISSECTING LEGAL PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND CREATIVE CONTROL IN LITERARY AND NARRATIVE ADAPTATIONS: A NIGERIAN THEATRE AND FILM INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE

This paper critically examines the legal and proprietary rights implicated in the adaptation of literary works within the Nigerian theatre and film industry. While the creative adaptation of folklore, historical narratives, and modern literature has contributed to the rise of Nollywood and stage performance arts in Nigeria, it has also exposed persistent legal and ethical challenges relating to intellectual property (IP). The study interrogates the extent to which Nigeria’s copyright regime, principally under the Copyright Act and relevant judicial interpretations, protects the original author's proprietary and moral rights in adapted works. It analyses prevalent issues such as unauthorized use, weak contractual frameworks, the infringement of image and personality rights, and the limited enforcement mechanisms available to aggrieved rights holders. The paper further addresses the ethical dilemmas surrounding consent, credit attribution, and the balance between cultural preservation and commercial exploitation. Drawing on statutory analysis, doctrinal review, and selected case studies, the article proposes reform-oriented recommendations to enhance copyright enforcement, encourage equitable contractual practices, and establish a more transparent legal infrastructure that safeguards both creators and adapters. These insights are intended to advance Nigeria’s creative economy within a rights-respecting legal framework.