Abstract
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.
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.
Keywords:
Copyright law
Creative control
Intellectual property
Literary adaptation
Nollywood
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