Actress Portia Asare Boateng has called for stronger efforts to tackle piracy in Ghana’s film industry, urging filmmakers to understand copyright laws and take legal action when their works are used without permission.
In an interview with GhanaWeekend, Portia Boateng acknowledged that piracy remains a challenge within the industry but stressed that there are legal frameworks in place to protect filmmakers.
“We can only try to curb it. But notwithstanding, there are Acts that talk about pirating in the film industry. Maybe some may not know, but it’s there,” she said.
The actress disclosed that she once took legal action against an individual who aired one of her movies without her consent, noting that creators must be willing to defend their rights.
“But I, for instance, am noted for that. There was a time someone showed my movie without my consent and I took the case to court because I will make the law speak for me,” she disclosed.
According to her, filmmakers who want long-term success in the industry should educate themselves on laws surrounding piracy and intellectual property protection.
“So if you’re a filmmaker who wants to go far, you need to read the Acts and know the situations concerning piracy,” she advised.
Portia Boateng also appealed to individuals and platforms that distribute films without permission to stop the practice, particularly when productions have not yet generated their full commercial value.
“But we will plead with people who show movies without filmmakers’ consent, especially when the movie hasn’t gained its value yet, to quit such actions,” she stated.
She warned that piracy negatively affects the growth of the movie industry and limits opportunities for producers and creators.
“That does not make the industry grow, and producers are unable to reach where they’d want to,” she added.
The actress further encouraged Ghanaians to support filmmakers by promoting local content and helping Ghanaian stories reach wider audiences.
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