By Uko Etim
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) is seeking collaboration with publishers to combat piracy in the educational sector in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
According to the Commission, the partnership aims to strengthen the fight against copyright infringement and protect the creative industry’s interests in both states.
The State Coordinator of NCC, Mrs. Cornelia Ibanga, made this known during an annual meeting with publishers on Thursday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
She stated that the move became necessary due to the high rate of piracy and its danger to the economy, especially the educational sector.
“We have come to realise that the private sector cannot grow as expected if piracy and other copyright abuses are allowed to thrive,”
“This meeting is an opportunity for us to join hands together to fight the menace of piracy in our states.”
“Our major objective is to achieve zero-tolerance for piracy, which requires high-level collaboration with publishers.
Ibanga stated that the collaboration would involve publishers helping the agency identify original copies and distinguishing them from pirated books.
“As an enforcement agent, we rely on publishers to identify their books. If publishers fail to cooperate, it raises suspicions about their intentions.
“The Nigerian Copyright Commission is aware that some sales representatives of publishers may also be involved in piracy by using publishers’ inventory for unauthorized purposes.
She advised publishers to be more flexible in their business practices, arguing that overly restrictive measures, such as labeling books “not to be sold,” could inadvertently fuel piracy.
The State Coordinator stressed that it was an offence to aid and abet criminal copyright infringement, adding anyone caught would risk imprisonment.
