PRACTITIONERS in Nigerian creative sector have been called upon to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the new Copyright Act, 2022 and make necessary changes to enhance their fortunes in the sector.
Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John O. Asein made the call in Lagos on 2nd May 2023, while welcoming guests to the formal presentation of the Act to members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) that drafted the Copyright Bill. He noted that the Act offers a comprehensive legal framework that suits the digital environment.
The Director-General explained that by familiarising themselves with the provisions of the Act, right owners and other players in the sector can maximize its potentials as a valuable tool. According to him, “the new Copyright Act will help the creative industry to do better.”
While commending members of the TWG and others that made inputs to the Copyright Bill, he thanked the former Director-General of the Commission, Mr. Afam Ezekude, for initiating the reform process.
The Director, Regulatory & Compliance, NCC, Mr. Mike Akpan who presented a paper titled The Journey to the Copyright Act traced the law making process from 2012 to the signing of the Bill in 2023. He highlighted the invaluable work and personal sacrifices by members of the TWG comprising officials of the Commission and representatives of relevant IP professional bodies.
On his part, the former Director-General of NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude, who was Guest of Honour at the event, spoke on the significance of the new Act, especially in the era digital technology and the ease of exploitation online. He expressed confidence that the Act, which meets global standards, will serve as catalyst for national economic growth. “The new Copyright Act will encourage the creative industry to do more and NCC should collaborate with stakeholders to ensure adequate implementation, especially the clamping down on online infringements”, he advised.
A member of the Governing Board of Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), Dr Victor Okhai commended the Commission for the enactment and admonished practitioners in the creative industry to make use of it judiciously.
In his remarks, the CEO/MD, Accessible Publishers Limited, and the immediate past President of the Nigerian Book Fair Trust (NBFT), Mr. Gbadega Adedapo, also commended the Commission for successfully birthing the Act. He urged the Commission to rise up to the task ahead so as to realise the objectives of the new Act.
The Board Chairman of Audio Visual Rights Society (AVRS), Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun appreciated the Commission for its achievements and also commended the work done by the TWG. He stated that the new Copyright Act presents a lot of benefits to the creative industry, adding that they should make good use of it.
The Chairman of MCSN, Mr. Orits Wiliki commended the NCC for working hard on the Bill and seeing to the signing of the Act before the exit of the last administration. He urged the NCC to stay focused on ensuring that the Act is well effectively implemented.
A former Commissioner of Information in Lagos State, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, joined the Director-General to present appreciation plaques to members of the TWG who included the representative of Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, Mr. Obafemi Ogaba; representative of the Intellectual Property Lawyers Association, Professor Bankole Sodipo, SAN; Mr. Babatunde Adetula (formerly a Director at NCC); Mr. Mike Apkan, Mr. Obi Ezeilo and Mr. Collins Nweke (officials of NCC). Others are the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO); Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA); Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA); Nigerian Association of the Blind (NAB); Performing Musicians Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN); This Day Newspaper and The Nation Newspaper. The Director-General, Dr. John O. Asein, who served as Chairman of the TWG before his appointment as Director-General, also received a plaque.
Olumide Oduntan
For: Director-General
