Efforts to reposition the Country’s Creative
Sector received a boost as the Federal Executive Council (FEC)
presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, approved the 2017 draft
Copyright bill. More recently, the NCC Board adopted a new operational strategy. This, in their steady progress to developing trust in the copyright regime in Nigeria.
The Bill was approved during the FEC
meeting. Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Mr. Afam
Ezekude who disclosed this at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja noted that
the approved Copyright Bill will be forwarded to the National Assembly for
further legislative action. This was some time back.
The DG further stated that the draft Bill, upon
passage will address issues of copyright infringements, enhance the capacity of
the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective administration and enforcement,
among several other benefits including; Strengthening the creative industries
in Nigeria for global competitiveness. Expanding the scope of copyright
offences to include infractions on the digital platforms and provide more
deterrent punishments for copyright violations.
Facilitating Nigeria’s
compliance with obligations arising under relevant international treaties which
Nigeria has acceded to or ratified, including the four World Intellectual
Property Organization’s administered treaties which Nigeria ratified on October
4, 2017. Strengthening investment prospects in the creative industry and
expanding the revenue base for artists and performers and Enhancing royalty
collection schemes for wealth creation. According to Mr. Ezekude, the draft
Copyright Bill was necessitated by significant developments both in the
domestic and international
Copyright environment including the emergence of
digital technologies which has presented opportunities for copyright pirates
and posed various challenges for rights’ enforcement. While lauding the Federal
Government for approving the bill, the DG, NCC stressed that the Commission and
the entire stakeholders in the creative sector look forward to a speedy
legislative action and passage of the Bill.
Amos Abutu and Vincent Oyesfeso For: Director General of the NCC
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This is part of ongoing effort in Nigeria to reform copyright protection and which was launched in 2012. The NCC has featured in multiple posts on this blog. For more information type "NCC" or "Nigeria Copyright" using the search function on the Afro-IP website. This article, published on Mondaq, by John Onyido provides some good insight and commentary too.
