Ini Edo in intellectual property dispute with Chinenye Nworah over ‘Shanty Town’

A dispute has emerged between Nigerian actress Ini Edo and filmmaker Chinenye Nworah over the ownership of the Netflix series ‘Shanty Town’. The pair collaborated on the successful first season of the show, leading to discussions with Netflix about a second season. However, Edo’s legal team has demanded that Netflix halt all discussions with Nworah and her production company, Giant Creative Media, regarding any future installments of the series.

Edo’s legal argument is based on a series of agreements that establish shared ownership of the intellectual property rights to ‘Shanty Town’. According to these agreements, which date back to December 2019 and include subsequent deals in 2021, Nworah is not the sole owner of the series. Rather, the intellectual property rights are shared between Minini Empire Productions, Giant Creative Media, Nevada Bridge TV, and Champion One Entertainment. Furthermore, these entities are entitled to a percentage of the profits generated by the project.

Nworah, however, has vehemently denied Edo’s claims and insists that she is the sole initiator and copyright holder of ‘Shanty Town’. In a press release issued by Giant Creative Media, Nworah’s company, on February 22, 2024, the public is urged to disregard Edo’s assertions of ownership and recognize Nworah’s sole claim to the series.

The dispute between Edo and Nworah underscores the complexities of ownership and intellectual property rights in the entertainment industry, particularly in the context of collaborative projects like ‘Shanty Town’. It remains to be seen how the legal proceedings will unfold and whether Netflix will heed Edo’s demands to cease all discussions with Nworah regarding the series’ future.