A copyright controversy has erupted in the Nollywood industry following allegations by filmmaker Lily Perez against fellow producer Chinney Love Eze, over the alleged infringement of Perez’s YouTube movie, A Kristmas to Love.
Perez, through her production company Lily Perez Films, is the creator of A Kristmas to Love, a Christmas-themed film that has enjoyed strong audience reception since its release.
The dispute began after viewers noticed what they described as striking similarities between Perez’s movie and another Christmas film later released on Chinney Love Eze’s YouTube channel.
Concerned fans flooded Eze’s comment section, accusing her of copying key elements of Perez’s work. In response, Eze released a video denying the allegations and insisting her film was an original creation. However, her explanation was met with skepticism from viewers, many of whom criticized her tone as condescending and pointed out perceived inconsistencies in her account, further fueling doubts about her credibility.
A viewer that can be identified as @paullambon1690 wrote: Is this a replica or annex of “A Kristmas to love” movie by lily Perez??
Another user @ucheomaokeke5266 wrote: You stole @ Lily Perez movie titled “A KRISTMAS TO LOVE” Onye Oshi movie.
One @gloriaakullu5345 added: The only difference in this movie from A KRISMAS TO LOVE is that there’s no Mohammed that wants to marry the second wife, the rest of the storyline and actor is the same.
The controversy further escalated when actor Baaj Adebule, who appeared in both productions, addressed the issue in a video statement. Adebule revealed that Eze had seen A Kristmas to Love, contradicting her public claims. He further disclosed that upon reading the script for Eze’s film, he raised concerns about the similarities and later contacted Lily Perez to apologize even before the release of Eze’s movie, acknowledging that the resemblance was evident.
Perez has maintained that she wrote the original script in 2024 and insists she has documentary evidence to support her claim. She has challenged Eze to provide proof of originality and confirmed that her legal representatives have issued a letter of demand, signaling her intention to pursue legal action if the matter is not resolved.
Film critics and industry observers have also weighed in, with several asserting that Eze’s film bears substantial resemblance to A Kristmas to Love. Many believe the dispute could become a landmark moment for Nollywood, potentially pushing the industry toward stricter enforcement of copyright laws and stronger protections for creative works in the rapidly growing digital film space.