The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) and the Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG) have strengthened their collaboration to tackle piracy and other forms of copyright infringement in the South-East and South-South regions.
The organisations made their position known on Wednesday in Enugu at an awareness workshop on Reproduction Rights Management and Copyright Advocacy organised for members of the NPA.
The programme commenced with a sensitisation road walk through Independence Layout, Enugu, as part of efforts to educate the public on the consequences of piracy and the importance of protecting the intellectual property rights of authors, publishers and other creative professionals.
Speaking during the event, the Commandant of the NCC Enugu Command, Macfoy Akachukwu, said the initiative was aimed at improving public understanding of copyright protection while discouraging the unauthorised use and reproduction of creative works.
Akachukwu cautioned individuals and organisations engaged in piracy to desist from the practice, warning that the commission would continue to arrest and prosecute offenders in accordance with the law.
He said sustained enforcement efforts by the commission had resulted in the removal of large quantities of pirated materials from circulation, noting that infringing materials valued at more than N10 billion had been seized over the past 15 years.
The NCC commandant urged Nigerians to respect the intellectual property rights of others and avoid activities that amounted to copyright infringement.
Also speaking, Dr Uchenna Anioke, a member of the REPRONIG Board, described the partnership between the three organisations as a significant development in efforts to strengthen copyright protection and rights management in the country.
Anioke explained that REPRONIG represents and manages reproduction rights on behalf of writers and publishers, adding that closer cooperation among copyright stakeholders would improve awareness and enforcement.
Representing the Chairman of REPRONIG, Mr Gbadega Adedapo, and other board members, Anioke welcomed participants to what he described as an important collaborative initiative.
He noted that the campaign was necessary because many Nigerians were still unaware that reproducing, downloading or distributing copyrighted materials without authorisation could amount to copyright infringement.
Anioke, who is also a member of the Executive Committee of the International Publishers Association, disclosed that the workshop was expected to culminate in the development of a roadmap and action plan for addressing copyright violations across the South-East and South-South zones.
He further raised concerns over the spread of piracy, particularly allegations that some small-scale printing businesses were reproducing books and other works belonging to publishers without obtaining the required permission.
Meanwhile, the National Deputy President, NPA East, Dr Jesse Odu, said the workshop was intended to draw greater national attention to the growing threat piracy poses to Nigeria’s publishing sector.
Odu alleged that pirates now control about 70 per cent of the publishing business, describing the industry as an “endangered species” as a result of widespread infringement.
He called on the Federal Government to provide the NCC with increased support and logistics to strengthen its capacity to identify and prosecute copyright offenders.
The NPA leader also appealed to parents, schools and other public and private institutions to stop purchasing or using pirated books and intellectual works.
According to him, piracy goes beyond the violation of intellectual property rights, as it undermines the economy and contributes to job losses across the publishing value chain.
Odu urged Nigerians to support efforts to protect intellectual property, arguing that a stronger copyright environment would motivate authors and publishers to continue investing in the production of quality literary and educational materials.
He added that copyright officials in the South-East remained committed to their responsibilities but required stronger backing from government and other stakeholders to effectively combat piracy in the region.