Mark Darlington warns producers over artistes stripping their rights in shady deals

Accra, Ghana —
Renowned Ghanaian filmmaker and creative producer Mark Darlington has issued a strong warning to music and film producers in the country, urging them to be cautious of unscrupulous artistes who use shady deals to strip them of their rightful ownership and creative control.

Speaking during a recent industry forum, Mark expressed concern over a growing trend in the entertainment space where artistes, often under the guise of partnership or collaboration, gradually edge out producers from projects they helped birth.

“Some of these artistes are getting clever with paperwork, and before you know it, you’ve signed away all your rights,” he cautioned. “It’s happening too often—and many producers only realise they’ve been sidelined when the project blows up.”

Darlington emphasized that while collaboration is key to building a vibrant creative economy, it should not come at the cost of transparency and fairness. He highlighted several incidents where producers—especially emerging ones—were manipulated into deals that eventually left them with no credit, no royalties, and no control over the final product.

The Rights Stripping Trend

Mark explained that some artistes use vague contract language, verbal agreements, or deliberate miscommunication to push producers out of co-ownership positions once a project starts gaining traction. This often leads to legal battles or silent exits by the original creators.

“If you’re a producer—whether in music, film, or content creation—you must protect your work from day one. Ownership should not be based on verbal promises or emotional loyalty. It must be written, signed, and legally sound.”

A Call for Industry Standards

Darlington called on entertainment guilds and unions in Ghana to establish clearer industry standards and educate creatives—especially producers—on contract negotiation, copyright law, and intellectual property management.

He also advised producers to consult entertainment lawyers before entering any agreement, no matter how promising or friendly the deal may seem.

“We need to stop romanticizing handshake deals and start treating our art as a business,” he added.

Support from the Creative Community

Mark Darlington’s comments have sparked widespread discussion across Ghana’s creative circles. Several producers, including some in the music and film sectors, have come forward to share similar experiences, echoing his call for tighter protections.

Industry stakeholders are now advocating for more workshops on copyright literacy, as well as the formation of a national registry to protect producers’ credits and contributions.

As Ghana’s entertainment industry continues to grow, this warning serves as a timely reminder: creativity must be matched with caution, and passion with paperwork.