By Angela Atabo
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Thursday took copyright compliance checks to some Abuja markets and schools to clampdown on piracy in the country.
The Commission said the purpose of copyright compliance checks was to ensure booksellers and school managements respect and comply with the nation’s copyright laws.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NCC enforcement operatives inspected Genesis Bookshop, Good Day Books Ltd. at Area 10, Abuja, as well as paying sensitisation visit to the management of Government Secondary School, Garki, Abuja.
Also inspected were Himnet Educational
Services and Victory Book Shop
at AMAC Market FHA Lugbe Abuja.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the inspection tour, the Director-General of NCC, Dr John Asein, said the purpose of the copyright compliance check to some Abuja market places was to ensure that booksellers procure books from right channels.
Asein, who was represented by Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, NCC Director of Public Affairs, added that the sensitisation visit was imperative as some publishers sold pirated books to schools, hurting the creators and the nation’s economy.
“You know, before now, there seemed to be massive ignorance of what copyright is and what constitutes piracy. But today, we observe that most people seem to know us, who we are as a government regulatory agency, and what our mandates are.
“We found out that some of them know that it is wrong to purchase pirated materials while some are still purchasing pirated materials, or rather sourcing their books from very wrong channels.
“And that is why we need to sensitise more because the sensitisation will go a long way to help. We are sensitising, but we need to up our game. So, we will keep doing it so that they will really know the difference between the real copies and the pirated copies.
“And then what are those sources that they are supposed to engage with in procuring their resources? So, that has been the observation today.
“We also found out that some of them are still adamant, believing that if they sell the copyright books, that people complain that they are expensive, that is why they go buying pirated books that appear cheaper.
“So, the ignorance there is they don’t know they are hurting people. They are hurting creators, and they are hurting the economy. So, that is the area I’m saying we need to embark on more sensitisation.
“We’ll do a lot more of enlightenment, sensitisation, and then of course we will enforce in line with our mandate,” NCC boss said.
According to him, the main purpose of today’s copyright compliance checks to market places is to ensure that booksellers are procuring books from right channels.
“Of course, all the publishers have their representatives. So, those representatives are supposed to supply them books. They’re not supposed to go behind to buy books or books that they procure from wrong channels.
“You find out that most of the shops, they had foreign books. So, we’re asking, how did you get these books? From what channel did you get these books? So, our goal now today is to ensure that they start complying.
“And if they are in doubt about who the real representatives are or what the real supply chains are, we should be able to tell them. So, that is why I still say we’ll keep enlightening them.”
The NCC DG said that the Commission also discovered that some pirates have found their way to the schools, selling pirated materials to them.
According to him, It’s easier for these pirates to sell to the schools and the schools quickly give the students,
even when you come, it’s difficult to see the books, unlike when you go to the bookshops that you check through the decks and you see them.
“So, some of those principals, they know.
They know what the right channel is. And when they go off the right channel, it’s intentional.
“And today we have gone to remind them that this is how you do it, this is what is right. The next time we’re going, we’ll be enforcing our rights.”
Mr Dasumi Ibrahim, Managing Director of Himnet Educational Services, who said he was also speaking against piracy, commended the NCC team for going round to protect creators’ works.
Ibrahim said when customers come to purchase copyright books in his shop, they always lament that the books are expensive because pirated ones are cheaper.
He expressed belief that continuous copyright compliance check and sensitisation would help in reducing the rising rate of piracy in the country. (NAN)
Edited by Deji Abdulwahab
