Victor Okhai, the president of the Directors Guild of Nigeria, has said piracy can only be mitigated to the bearest minimum but cannot be totally eradicated.
Speaking at a roundtable organized by MultiChoice, Africa’s primary entertainment company, addressing the escalating piracy challenges, Okhai acknowledged the perpetual evolution of piracy methods as technology advances.
The event, named ‘Piracy Untells Our Stories,’ took place on November 22 at the MultiChoice Meeting room in Lagos. It facilitated comprehensive discussions, knowledge exchange, and the development of effective strategies to counter digital-age piracy.
Okhai stressed, “As technology evolves, pirates discover new methods. So, while we can limit it, we can’t entirely eliminate it.”
Highlighting the role of consumers, he underscored the importance of addressing the demand side of piracy. He urged consumers who engage in purchasing pirated content to reconsider, emphasizing that their actions contribute significantly to the problem.
Describing buyers of pirated content as collaborators in theft, Okhai emphasized the need for education and awareness campaigns targeting these individuals. He appealed for a shift in mindset, urging people to comprehend the consequences of their actions, likening the act of purchasing pirated content to theft.
He emphasized the detrimental impact on creators, detailing how many filmmakers invest substantial personal resources, loans, or property to finance their projects, only to have their work pirated and distributed illegally, leading to irreversible losses.
Okhai emphasized the importance of enlightening and influencing the buying behavior of consumers, urging a collective reevaluation of attitudes toward piracy and its grave consequences for content creators.