Nollywood has been drawn into a heated copyright debate following allegations by filmmaker Lily Perez that fellow producer Chinney Love Eze unlawfully replicated major elements of her Christmas film, A Kristmas to Love, in a separate YouTube release.
Perez, operating under Lily Perez Films, produced A Kristmas to Love as a festive drama that quickly resonated with audiences.
However, the acclaim surrounding the project soon gave way to controversy after viewers began to notice what they described as extensive similarities between the film and another Christmas-themed production credited to Eze.
The allegations gained momentum organically, with fans taking to Eze’s YouTube comment section to question the originality of her film.
Several viewers pointed out that both movies shared not only a near-identical plot structure but also overlapping character arcs and the same lead actor, raising concerns about possible copyright infringement.
Reacting to the growing backlash, Chinney Love Eze released a video denying any wrongdoing and maintaining that her film was independently developed.
Nevertheless, the response appeared to further inflame public sentiment.
Viewers criticised her explanation, describing it as dismissive, while others highlighted what they perceived as inconsistencies in her narrative, intensifying doubts around her claims.
The controversy deepened when actor Baaj Adebule, who featured in both productions, publicly addressed the issue.
In a video statement, Adebule revealed that Eze had watched A Kristmas to Love, contradicting her earlier public assertions.
He also disclosed that he had raised concerns after reviewing the script for Eze’s film and later contacted Perez to apologise before the second movie was released.
“I felt uneasy when I noticed the similarities and believed it was only right to acknowledge that the resemblance was obvious,” Adebule said, admitting that the situation raised ethical questions.
Perez has since reiterated that she wrote the original screenplay in 2024 and insists she has documentary evidence to prove authorship.
She challenged Eze to present verifiable proof of originality and confirmed that her legal team has issued a formal letter of demand, signalling her readiness to pursue legal action if necessary.
“This matter goes beyond personal grievances. It speaks to the protection of intellectual property in Nollywood,” Perez said.
Meanwhile, fan reactions have remained vocal and largely critical.
Commenters highlighted identical storylines involving grief, romance, and Christmas-themed encounters, with one viewer describing Eze’s film as a “100 per cent copycat.”
Others questioned whether the script had been resold or recycled, while some accused the industry of failing to hold creators accountable.
One viewer wrote, “This is exactly the same storyline as A Kristmas to Love. There is nothing original about it,” while another lamented what they described as the casual recycling of scripts in Nollywood.
Several fans also criticised the decision to cast the same male lead, arguing that it made the similarities even more glaring.
Film critics and fans have since weighed in, noting that the allegations, if substantiated, could mark a significant moment for Nollywood’s creative ecosystem.
According to some fans, the dispute highlights longstanding concerns about weak copyright enforcement and could push the industry toward clearer standards and stronger legal protections for original works.
Meanwhile, as legal tensions mount and public scrutiny intensifies, the unfolding dispute is being closely watched as a potential test case for how Nollywood confronts copyright infringement in the digital age.