Nigerian Journalist Accuses Netflix Series ‘Ordinary People’ Of Unauthorised Use Of Niger Delta Footage

A Nigerian journalist, Tife Owolabi, has accused Netflix and the producers of its series Ordinary People of using his copyrighted audiovisual footage without his permission.

Owolabi raised the complaint in a formal notice addressed to the Netflix Legal/Intellectual Property Team over footage appearing in Season 1, Episode 1 of the series.

According to him, the footage was originally shot by him during field production in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, particularly in a creek environment.

Owolabi said he identified the footage in the Netflix episode based on its “distinctive location, imagery and sequence” and matched it with material contained in his original production archive.

He said he had attached screenshots showing the footage as used in the episode, alongside evidence of the original material in his possession.

“I did not grant Netflix, the producers of Ordinary People, or any third party acting on their behalf a licence, assignment or other permission to reproduce, incorporate, distribute, communicate or otherwise commercially exploit this footage in the series, to the best of my knowledge,” Owolabi said in the notice.

He is demanding that Netflix and/or the relevant production company disclose how the footage was obtained and identify the person, company or agency that supplied or licensed it to the production.

Owolabi also requested a copy of any licence, release, assignment or other rights documentation relied upon to authorise the use of the footage.

He further demanded details of the scope of any purported rights, including the territory, duration, media and permitted uses.

He asked Netflix to explain the basis upon which the footage was incorporated into and commercially distributed through its streaming service.

“If no valid licence or other authorisation exists, I request that the matter be treated as an unauthorised use of my copyrighted audiovisual material and that appropriate arrangements be made for compensation and/or retrospective licensing of the footage,” he said.

Owolabi requested a substantive response within 14 days of receipt of the notice.

He also stated that he had reserved “all rights and remedies available” to him under applicable copyright law, adding that he was not waiving any rights by engaging with Netflix or the production team to resolve the matter.