The Nigerian Copyright Commission has admonished parents, guardians, right owners and the public to report any suspected case of piracy to the commission or security agencies including the Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Customs Service and the Department of State Service for necessary action.
The admonition followed recent inspection and anti piracy operation across the country.
The Commission in a release said it has noticed disturbing trends in the distribution of pirated books through schools, online sales outlet and traditional book stories.
It said the Commission has also noticed a rise in the local printing of pirated books and the illicit activities of importers, sales representatives and road transporters who deal in pirated books.
“It is an offence under the Copyright Acts 2022 to reproduce, import, sell, distribute or to be in possession of infringing copies of a Copyright work. It is also an offence to aid and abet criminal Copyright infringement, punishable under the Act are now significantly stiffer with no upper limit to the amount of fine or term of imprisonment that may be imposed.’
The release also stated that the Copyright Officers are vested with the powers and privileges of Police Officers and may without warrant enter any premises, including schools and stores used for infringing activities, adding that they may also effect the arrest of person and sealed up premises connected with piracy.
According to the release, convicted offenders may forfeit infringing materials and properties which are found to be proceeds of a Copyright offence.
“It is particularly disturbing that some schools source books from well known piracy hotspots and printers for sale to their students. The Commission will henceforth treat such schools as booksellers and hold them accountable for any pirated books found in their premises or in the possession of their students.
“School are advised to patronize punishers directly or purchase from accredited sales representatives or reputable bookstores . They should in all cases exercise extreme caution and due diligence in their dealings and always insist or sign invoices from suppliers.
It said further that this advisory serves as notice to publishers, printers, importers, sale representatives, book sellers, online selling platforms, transporters, owners of premises where books are printed or stored, adding that school proprietors and head of schools who may be involved or aiding book piracy are advised to be extra vigilant and take adequate precautions to avoid complicity in book piracy.
“It said book sellers should also exercise due diligence in their dealings with distributors and book importers”
“The Commission acknowledges its collaboration with enforcement and security agencies including the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Department of State Service.”
