Ibadan: The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has taken decisive action against the piracy of books by sealing several printing houses and confiscating a significant number of pirated books from bookshops throughout the city of Ibadan.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the operation was led by the NCC's Director-General (DG), Dr. John Asein, who was represented by the NCC Coordinator for Oyo State, Mrs. Oluropo Oke. The coordinated raids took place in the Apata, Mokola, and Dugbe areas of Ibadan. Dr. Asein called on owners of creative properties to become familiar with their rights under the Copyright Act and to actively participate in combating piracy and other copyright infringements.
Dr. Asein emphasized that these inspections are a testament to the commission's commitment to bolstering the copyright sector and aiding the fight against piracy. He noted that the initiative aims to ensure that both creators and investors receive fair returns on their creativity and investments. The raids revealed that some of the sealed printing houses and bookshops failed to maintain proper records of creative works received from authors or publishers, a practice that undermines the fight against book piracy in Nigeria.
Dr. Asein highlighted Section 48 of the Copyright Act, which outlines the responsibilities of printers, booksellers, and other stakeholders involved in the business of creative properties. The act mandates that they maintain comprehensive records of all creative works they receive for reproduction or sales, enabling the NCC to accurately trace the origin of each work. This measure is intended to confirm whether the rightful owner is aware of the reproduction of their intellectual property.
He further explained that this record-keeping would ensure that creators can secure maximum benefits from the sales and distribution of their works. The constitution requires publishers, printers, producers, manufacturers, and aggregators of copyrighted works to keep detailed records, including the author's name, work title, date of use or production, quantity used or produced, and any additional information prescribed by the commission.
Dr. Asein warned that failing to maintain the required records, making false entries, or providing false evidence to the commission constitutes an offense under the law. Offenders found guilty are liable to a fine of at least N100,000 or imprisonment for a minimum of one year, or both. The NCC is committed to intensifying its inspection efforts to dismantle book piracy operations and ensure that owners of creative properties receive the rewards they deserve for their work.