By Babatunde Ayedoju
The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr John Asein, has described copyright protection as an essential ingredient for the survival and development of Nigeria’s publishing and bookselling industry.
Asein stated this in Akure while speaking at a sensitisation exercise for booksellers from Ondo and Ekiti States.
The Director-General, who was represented by the Western Zonal Commander of NCC, Mrs Oluropo Oke, spoke on copyright awareness and compliance for booksellers under the Copyright Act, 2022.
Asein stressed that the sensitisation was aimed at acquainting booksellers with their rights and obligations under the law, particularly in relation to works eligible for copyright, copyright protection, piracy and infringement, and the penalties for copyright offences.
Asein hailed authors, publishers and other right owners for investing considerable intellectual, financial and creative resources in producing books, warning that piracy deprived these stakeholders of legitimate income, discourages creativity and undermines the publishing industry.
While referencing the Copyright Act 2022 as a strong legal framework for protecting creative works, the DG stated that it imposes consequences on those who engage in unauthorised reproduction, importation, sale and distribution of infringing copies.
He said, “For members of the booksellers association, the central message is straightforward.
“A bookseller should deal only in books obtained through legitimate channels and should never knowingly sell, distribute, import, reproduce or facilitate the commercial exploitation of pirated books.”
The NCC helmsman advised booksellers that aside buying books from only legitimate sources, they should ensure they get receipts.
He also recommended that they should pay through electronic transfer, instead of cash, so that there can be an irrefutable evidence of payment subsequently.
Citing Section 44(7) of the Act, Asein stated that distributing copied to the public for commercial purposes without the owner’s consent attracts a fine of at least N10,000 for every copy dealt with, or imprisonment for at least three years, or both.
“A person who, without the consent of the copyright owner, communicates a work to the public or makes it available online for commercial purposes commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of at least N1,000,000 or imprisonment for at least five years, or both,” he added.
Speaking with THE HOPE, the NCC Western Zonal Commandant, Mrs Oluropo Oke, stressed that the essence of the meeting was to enlighten booksellers in Ondo and Ekiti States on the copyright law which guides their activities, urging them to abide by the law diligently.
Talking about the danger of selling pirated books, Oke stated that it kills the economy and encourages the production of substandard books.
“Moreover, you are discouraging the authors because the benefits that should go to the authors are going to the wrong channel,” she added.
Also speaking, President of the Ondo State Booksellers Association, Elder Idowu Olumuyiwa, lauded the sensitisation exercise, describing it as an eye-opener for booksellers.
He expressed hope that the sensitisation would go a long way in helping booksellers avoid purchasing pirated books.