According to the United States Patent and Trademark office, the trademark was issued to Nicholas of Kirkland, WA. on December 03, 2013. What this means is that Nicholas Opara now has legal ownership of the term “Nollywood” and every time someone uses that term, they either have to get permission from him or pay him royalties, making it a potential cash cow for him.
Anyone using the word Nollywood in any of his products or services without Nicholas Opara’s permission faces legal liability for trademark infringement and there’s a report that he, allegedly, has already sent a cease and desist letter to a company using the word ‘Nollywood.’
Nollywood is now in its early 20’s, inspired by the spectacle of everyday lives, the movie industry has come to be globally recognised for its prolific output and dramatic narratives. With an annual production of around 1000 films, Nigeria’s film industry brings in an estimated $250m a year, and the total value of the industry ($3.5bn) is estimated to go up significantly when Nigeria rebases its economy.
