Coson Commends EFCC’s War Against Copyright Infringers

Copyright Society of Nigeria (Coson), the nation’s sole government approved copyright collective management organization for musical works and sound recordings has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for its pledge to wage a forceful war against infringers of copyright in Nigeria.

Chief Tony Okoroji, chairman of Coson in a commendation letter addressed to the Ibrahim Lamorde, executive chairman of the EFCC wrote: “We have received with happiness the news of the meeting between the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) which held in Abuja on Friday, November 2, 2012.

 “On behalf of the thousands of members and affiliates of Copyright Society of Nigeria (Coson), I write to express our excitement on your pledge to forcefully deploy the tried and tested machinery of the EFCC to bring the manifold infringers of copyright in Nigeria to squarely face the law. Your understanding of the destructive nature of the abuse of Nigeria’s creative industries and the appreciation that copyright infringement is an economic crime doing great damage to the fiscal health of our nation are consistent with the views which Coson has repeatedly expressed”.

 “We also appreciate the fact that your understanding of copyright infringement is not limited to those who produce unauthorized copies of copyright products at Alaba market in Lagos, Electromart in Onitsha and similar bastions of illegal production in Nigeria. We are happy that you fully understand that the league of copyright offenders in Nigeria include the many businesses that without authorization or compensation, publicly deploy musical works and sound recordings to make millions for themselves at the expense of those who have invested their creative ingenuity and funds in these works”.

 “We wish to assure you that Coson stands with the EFCC and the NCC in your clear determination to eradicate piracy and all forms of copyright infringement in Nigeria. You can count on Coson for every support you may require”.