THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has underscored the importance of an enduring partnership with Google to drive progress in the creative sector and promote the growth of the country’s digital ecosystem.
Director-General, NCC, Dr. John O. Asein made this statement during a meeting with a three-member Google delegation at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, 15th August, 2023.
Dr. Asein acknowledged the existing collaboration between Google and NCC, particularly in the area of capacity-building initiatives of Google. However, he emphasised the need to expand and deepen this synergy to encompass the creative sector, unlocking its potential for the benefit of the broader creative ecosystem.
Addressing some concerns raised by the Google team on the recently signed Copyright Act, Dr. Asein, stated that it calls for more engagements noting that the cardinal objectives of the new Act is to ensure that every person in the copyright space is protected and their concerns addressed.
He noted that the implementation of the provisions of the Act may pose some challenges but expressed the Commission’s commitment to adapting Google’s approach where necessary to ensure effective enforcement.
Leader of the team and West Africa Director, Google, Mr. Olumide Balogun lauded the Commission for the signing of the new Copyright Act. He recognized the evolving landscape in the digital realm, noting that compliance and enforcement were paramount. He emphasized the necessity of ongoing dialogues, given Google’s distinctive operational framework compared to traditional media.
Mr. Balogun stressed that the collaboration between NCC and Google was essential to ensuring that the objectives of the new law were met while preserving the seamless delivery of Google’s products and services.
Speaking also, the Africa Director, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Google, Mr. Charles Marito, stated that Google is currently reaching out to governments across the continent on how to deliver the requirements of a thriving digital ecosystem from their regulatory perspective and how to help sell it because of their understanding of the digital opportunities. He however identified a challenge with the new Act from the technical perspective with regards to taking down a channel after two strikes which is slightly different from their policy of taking down after three strikes. He informed that inasmuch as Google also adopts stringent measures to handle defaults, they don’t want to be non-compliant which necessitates the need for more interrogations on issues of this nature.
Responding, the DG, NCC, said with the new Copyright Act, the Commission has been interfacing with different groups to examine the different challenges on how to address them to ensure better service delivery. He welcomed the issues raised concerning the strikes as it will help to identify which model is preferable. He further assured that the Commission respects boundaries and sometimes the boundaries have to be adjusted so that the sustainable growth of the ecosystem in not threatened today or in future.
He equally informed that what is important is for everyone to subscribe to government policy of growing the digital ecosystem and that anything that will put Nigeria at a disadvantage in the ecosystem will not be supported.
Dr. Asein, identified Google as a global power brand in a global space and advocated that anything that can be done to encourage and support the youth for them to realise the value of their creativity in line with the Commission’s policy thrust to harness their strength in the area of technology and help them find their feet in the digital ecosystem will be welcome.
The team further pledged their commitment to empowering start-ups through digital technology and with the renewed collaboration with the NCC, the Commission will soon be intimated of some google projects to decide how they can partner in the execution of the initiatives.
Others in attendance were: the Government Affairs and Public Policy Lead, Google, Mr. Adewolu Adene; Director, Regulatory and Compliance, Mr. Mike Akpan and Director, Nigerian Copyright Academy, Mr. Collins Nweke.

Amos Abutu
For: Director-General