A dispute has arisen between Zeb Ejiro, a veteran Nigerian film-maker, and Anne Njemanze, an actress who played the lead role in his film "Domitilla". The dispute concerns the trademark ownership of the name "Domitilla," which Njemanze reportedly registered in 2020.
"Domitilla" is a popular Nigerian movie produced in 1996 by Zeb Ejiro. The film stars Anne Njemanze as the lead character, a young woman trying to survive as a prostitute in Lagos. The movie also features veteran actresses such as Sandra Achums, Kate Henshaw, and the late Ada Ameh. A sequel to "Domitilla," titled "Domitilla 2," was produced and released in 1999, while a remake was released in 2023.
Years after the release of "Domitilla" and "Domitilla 2," Njemanze reportedly trademarked the name "Domitilla and Device" in September 2020. This move prompted Ejiro to file a petition with the Commercial Law Department of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment seeking to revoke Njemanze's trademark registration and expunge the "Domitilla and Device" entry from the Register of Trade Marks.
Ejiro's legal team argued that the trademark had been in use since 1996 and that Njemanze knew of Ejiro's prior and continuous use of the name. They also claimed that Ejiro owned the copyright to the film scripts for "Domitilla" and "Domitilla 2," which he handed to Njemanze during her engagement as an actress. Ejiro's legal team argued that Njemanze had no goodwill or reputation in the name "Domitilla" separate from her role in the films.
Njemanze's legal team countered that their client had filed a 98-paragraph reply to the petition, arguing that the trademark had no jurisdiction to cancel the registration. They claimed that their client had satisfied all the requirements of the law to acquire the trademark and urged the registry to dismiss the petition in its entirety.
The dispute has raised questions about trademark ownership and the behavior of actors who seek to trademark names associated with the films in which they appeared. Some have criticized Njemanze for registering the "Domitilla" trademark without consulting Ejiro, who created and produced the film.
The case highlights the importance of protecting intellectual property and the need for clear guidelines on trademark ownership in the Nigerian film industry. It also underscores the need for actors to respect the creative contributions of producers and directors who bring their characters to life. As the case heads for a ruling, many will be watching to see how the court will interpret the trademark law in this context.
