Abuja: The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has urged printers, book sellers, and copyright-related business owners in Abuja to adhere to the provisions of the Copyright Act and the regulations that govern their operations. This call to action was made by Mr. Femi Ajala, the Head of Operations of the commission, following an inspection, sensitisation, and compliance exercise conducted in the Federal Capital Territory.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ajala highlighted that the purpose of the exercise was to inspect and assess compliance levels among businesses dealing with copyright materials. He emphasized that the exercise is part of NCC’s renewed commitment to bolstering enforcement operations across the country. Ajala pointed out that the exercise aimed to educate stakeholders on the relevant rules, as part of the preparation for a forthcoming strategic copyright enforcement initiative nationwide.
Ajala noted that the inspection revealed widespread non-compliance, with many printing businesses failing to maintain registers of their works as mandated by Section 48 of the Copyright Act. He warned that following the inspections, the commission would focus on enforcement and penalties for copyright infringement, stressing that these would be applied rigorously.
He further elaborated on the growing trend of online piracy, noting significant financial losses amounting to billions of dollars. Ajala underscored the commission’s efforts to safeguard intellectual property rights and urged businesses to comply with the legal framework to ensure their prosperity.
Mr. Ruben Omenefu, Chairman of the Printers Association of Nigeria (PAN), Commerce Market, Area 1, Abuja, expressed gratitude to the commission for the sensitisation initiative. He acknowledged the ignorance of many printers regarding the Copyright Act’s provisions and requested further enlightenment sessions for their members.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that more than 20 book outlets, printing outlets, and artwork vendors were sensitised during the exercise. Additionally, NCC and PAN agreed to organize a formal training session in the near future.