The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has described piracy as a crime that is worse than robbery, adding that theft of intellectual property kills a country’s economy and the creative ability of authors.
Speaking in Abuja during the celebration of ‘2014 World Book and Copyright Day’, the Director General of NCC, Mr. Afam Ezekude, director general of NCC urged people to desist from piracy.
Ezekude who was represented by Mr. Jacob Fagbemi, a director in the Commission, spoke in Abuja during the celebration of ‘2014 World Book and Copyright Day’,
According to him, new technology makes it difficult for authors to have control over their works, promising a review of Copyright Act with a view to making it up to international standard.
The Commission urged authors to extend their licensing right to digital platform so as to disseminate their work to more readers as well as to discourage people from purchasing pirated materials.
He said, “We are asking people to desist from indulging in piracy because it kills country’s economy and the creative ability of any author.
“People who have laboured to use their brains to put something down should not be robbed by some unscrupulous elements that just go and reproduce their works without authorisation. Piracy is worse than robbery.”
On the trend of piracy in the country, he said, “The realization of the basic aim of the statutory protection of authors has become more challenging given the influence of new technologies.
“Prior to now, literary authors were confronted with the pervasive syndrome of piracy as well as wanton reproduction of materials through photocopying. Currently there are more intense challenges. The evolution of digital technology and electronic networks like the internet has made possible instantaneous transmission of creative content globally with limited control by author.”
He said NCC had initiated a comprehensive review of the Copyright Act to address some of the issues.
“The review will among others, bring the Act in line with international standard of copyright protection in various international treaties to which Nigeria is signatory and ensure that challenges of contemporary technologies are well taken care of,” he said.
“We encourage right owners to explore new business models that can ensure easy access to legitimate creative content. Authors and publishers of literary works should explore the possibility of extending their licensing activities to the new digital platform of accessing creative content in order to encourage wider dissemination of their works and as a means of discouraging the reading public from patronizing pirated materials.”
He also said the dwindling reading culture can be revitalised if teachers, parents and stakeholders make books look interesting and attractive.