The Lagos State Film and Videos Censors Board (LSFVCB) said it has arrested 30 traders in the clampdown on dealers of pirated films in the state.
The Executive Secretary of the board, Mr. Dele Balogun, said in a statement on Tuesday that the traders were arrested after a week-long raid on pirated films outlets in eight local governments areas of the state.
The local governments include Kosofe, Alimosho, Mushin, Surulere, Oshodi-Isolo, Agege, Lagos Island and Ikorodu council areas.
Balogun explained that the raid which took place between Dec. 3 and Dec. 10, was carried out in collaboration with security agencies.
He said that tens of pirated DVDs, CDs, unclassified films, film production equipment as well as pornographic materials were seized within the period.
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Balogun added that during the raid, which was met with some resistance in some areas, cameras and other equipment were seized from presumed movie practitioners for shooting movies in the state without approval of LSFVCB.
He described intellectual property theft as the greatest threat to the development of the movie industry and called for the collaboration of all stakeholders to address the problem.
“The reality is that some people invested in producing films but in most cases, they don’t break even as a result of intellectual property theft.
“We are concerned as a government that this is happening at all. The state government is doing this for the sake of legitimate movie producers.
“The essence of our intervention is to protect movie producers and even children against such contents,” the LSFVCB boss said.
