The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has urged printers, booksellers, and other copyright-related business owners to comply with the provisions of the Copyright Act, as well as the rules and regulations governing their operations.
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The Commission’s Head of Operations, Mr. Femi Ajala, made the call while speaking to journalists after an inspection, sensitisation, and compliance exercise conducted across the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Ajala explained that the exercise aimed to inspect, sensitise, and ensure compliance by monitoring premises and outlets engaged in copyright-related activities.
”We are here to check if they are really complying with the section that requires them to keep a register, and this exercise is not a day’s work; it will take a while,” he said.
Ajala said the inspection and sensitisation exercise was part of the NCC’s renewed effort to strengthen copyright enforcement nationwide.
He explained that it aimed to educate stakeholders ahead of a major enforcement drive.
The exercise, which covered outlets dealing in copyright materials, exposed widespread violations and poor compliance.
Ajala noted that many printing firms failed to keep registers of their works as required by Section 48 of the Copyright Act, warning that enforcement and penalties would follow the inspections.
“The least we have now is a hundred thousand per copy of the infringing works that are in your possession…,“ he said.
He said that the commission was not asking them to go out of business, but rather comply with the tenets and the principles guiding their businesses, so that their businesses could flourish.
Highlighting the growing trend of online piracy with significant losses in billions of dollars, Ajala said, “Now, the new trend is even online sales. I can tell you the loss in billions of dollars because it cuts across genres.
“The commission is calling on intending pirates, copyright-infringing businesses, and the general public to take note of the commission’s efforts to protect intellectual property rights and desist from all illegal activities.
“If you want to deal in books, let us see the books. If it is stationery, let us see that it is stationery,” he said.
Ajala urged stakeholders to promote respect for creativity and copyright, assuring them that the Commission remains committed to protecting creators’ rights and enforcing compliance.
He reaffirmed the NCC’s resolve to step up its anti-piracy efforts.
Mr. Ruben Omenefu of the Printers Association of Nigeria (PAN), in Abuja, thanked the Commission for the sensitisation, noting that many printers were unaware of the Copyright Act’s provisions.
“My executive members and I appealed to the commission to come back on a scheduled appointment to enlighten our members,” he said.
NAN/Oluchi