Nigerian Copyright Commission . . . . . .Protecting Creativity

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THE COMMISSION

Introduction
As the world moves on in this millennium, there is every reason to believe that the computer and other information based technologies, as well as the products of creative talents will become increasingly important to world trade and cultural exchange. While developing countries may still be behind in main-stream technologies, their natural endowment in other creative faculties is not in doubt and there is every reason to believe that they are capable of matching talents from other parts of the world. As the international community moves into the next stage in the protection of works of the mind, copyright will play an increasingly central role in meeting the challenges of the millennium.

Origin
The origin of Nigerian Copyright Commission can be traced to the inadequacy of the first indigenous legal instrument regulating copyright issues in Nigeria- Decree No. 61 of 1970- to protect creativity and scholarship. Coming at the heels of the Nigerian civil war, salient provisions of the said Decree did not foresee the rapid socio-economic development and the influx of products of advanced technology into Nigeria , which made illegal reproduction of creative works easier. This inadequacy inter alia, resulted in high scale piracy, which robs creators, and organizations that help to produce or disseminate creative works of potential income. Sequel to increased pressure from authors, artistes and other right owners, the Federal Military Government promulgated into law, the Copyright Decree No. 47 of 1988 which was later codified as the Copyright Act Chapter 68 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990. The new Decree, apart from being remarkably pro-author also provided for the first time in Nigeria , the establishment of an institution for the administration of copyright and neighbouring rights matters. In line with Sections 30 and 32 of the law, the then President, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, General I.B. Babangida (Rtd.) inaugurated the Nigerian Copyright Council in August 1989 as the sole government agency responsible for the administration of copyright in Nigeria . In 1996 the Council was upgraded to the status of a Commission. The Nigerian Copyright Act has subsequently been amended in 1992 and 1999 to cope with increasing national and international responsibilities within the copyright system. At present, the Commission is a Federal Government of Nigeria Agency in the Federal Ministry of Justice. The Commission is predominantly funded by the Nigerian Government but sometimes benefits from financial and technical assistance from related international and national organizations.

VISION

The vision of the Nigerian Copyright Commission is to build a viable copyright system and infrastructure that best supports and contribute to national development

MISSION

The Commission shall strengthen the administration, protection and enforcement of copyright.

The Commission will continue to combat piracy nationwide. The Commission’s anti-piracy campaign will be strategic, systematic and proactive.

The Commission will collaborate with and empower the industry of right owners and users alike in the effective administration of copyright.

The Commission would help create a conducive atmosphere to boost capacities to explore the economic potentials of the country’s entertainment, publishing, broadcasting, ICT and software industries, among other creative industries.

The Commission, in recognition of the problem of collective administration, shall find an acceptable solution in the overall interest of both right owners and users. The Commission is cognizant of the monumental loss that this problem has occasioned to the fortunes of the legitimate creators of works.

The Commission will institute legal and institutional reforms for the development of copyright and intellectual property in Nigeria . The Commission shall develop the maiden National copyright Policy. The legal and policy thrust will seek to synergise copyright and national development.

The Commission will assume a dynamic role in Nigeria ’s position in the current international and trade-related intellectual property regime, particularly at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) as part of the United Nations (UN) and at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) respectively.

OBJECTIVES

Enlighten the general public on the tenets of the copyright law, their rights and obligation under the law.

Make appropriate regulations to sanitize the copyright industry in order to ensure that the industry contribute significantly to overall national growth.

Combat piracy at all fronts with a view to drastically curbing it and/or eliminating it through dynamic enforcement strategies.

Maintain an effective databank of authors and their work to aid copyright administration.

Advice Nigeria, taking cognizance of our national interest, on international copyright matters in order to ensure that the country’s copyright system reflects international standard, through active cooperation with relevant international copyright-related organization(s).

Encourage a sustainable creative production through enthroning at all times an enabling environment for creativity to thrive.