Abdulwahab Abdulah

THE Association of Professional Party Planners and Event Managers of Nigeria, APPOEMN, has condemned the gradual emergence of piracy and copy right violations in the events management industry.

The association at a press conference in Lekki, Lagos, said it is worrisome that piracy and copyright violation wa gradually taking over the growing events management industry.

In a joint statement signed by its members, the association noted that some events managers and planners have now perfected the habit of presenting pictures of other planners’ works to their clients and posting same on their websites without giving credit to the original owners of the pictures.

The association said the situation has become very worrisome as those who perpetrate the act end up not being able to deliver exactly what is contained in the pictures to their clients.

Part of the statement reads: “The reason APPOEMN was created was to demand professionalism and ethical standards to inspire client confidence and enhance the reputation and interest of its members. The rapid growth growth of the event industry in Nigeria has opened huge business opportunities across all levels of the event industry. However, along with these development comes new challenges, such as piracy/copyright violation.

“We stand here today as one under APPOEMN to say no to piracy. Stealing of other peoples works and parading same as yours is not acceptable and will not be tolerated in this industry.

“We are using this medium to let everyone know that we have created a page on our website for violators. We have also partnered with some magazine publications to expose violators. It is our belief that these measure will provide reassurance to our colleagues, clients and potential clients”.

Elaborating on the issue, President of the association, Mrs Molara Akinosho, said the situation has become very critical as more and more clients are fast losing confidence in the industry because planners who present pictures that are not theirs, cannot deliver on the content of the pictures.

“Really, this is becoming a big issue for us because our integrity is at stake. It is wrong for someone to take glory for what he or she has not laboured for. Conceiving a cake design and decor for the venue of an event takes time and energy and the least any one that wants to use the images of the event can do is simply to acknowledge the original owner of the picture. We could have allowed this matter to pass if not that those in the practice are gradually eroding our image and we want to stop that,” she said.

Managing Director of Tsoule Event, Mr Amodu Temitope, said that the pictures of the cake and decorations he made for a client were recently posted on the website owned by a wedding planner without due credit to him.

“ It is really bad that after one have put in so much creativity to package an event, another person takes the pictures of the decorations and cakes at the event and post it on their website and tell prospective clients that it is their work,” he noted with a frown.