FEC Approves Draft Copyright Bill 2017

Efforts to reposition the Country’s Creative Sector recently received a boost as the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, GCON, approved the 2017 draft Copyright bill.

The Bill was approved on Wednesday June 13, 2018 during the FEC meeting.

Mr. Afam Ezekude, Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who disclosed this at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja noted that the approved Copyright Bill will be forwarded to the National Assembly for further legislative action.

The DG further stated that the draft Bill, upon passage will address issues of copyright infringements, enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective administration and enforcement, among several other benefits including; Strengthening the creative industries in Nigeria for global competitiveness.

– Expanding the scope of copyright offences to include infractions on the digital platforms and provide more deterrent punishments for copyright violations.

– Facilitating Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising under relevant international treaties which Nigeria has acceded to or ratified, including the four World Intellectual Property Organization’s administered treaties which Nigeria ratified on October 4, 2017.

– Strengthening investment prospects in the creative industry and expanding the revenue base for artistes and performers and Enhancing royalty collection schemes for wealth creation.

According to Mr. Ezekude, the draft Copyright Bill was necessitated by significant developments both in the domestic and international Copyright environment including the emergence of digital technologies which has presented opportunities for copyright pirates and posed various challenges for rights’ enforcement.

While lauding the Federal Government for approving the bill, the DG, NCC stressed that the Commission and the entire stakeholders in the creative sector look forward to a speedy legislative action and passage of the Bill.