NCC Seizes N6.8Bn Pirated Books

Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC) yesterday said that it has recorded 56 convictions for offences related to‎ piracy and intellectual property theft and confiscated pirated books worth over N6 billion in the country.

Augustine Amodu, director of Enforcement of the commission, disclosed this at the inauguration of Anti-piracy Task Force units for the Edo State chapters of the Disc and Cassette Dealers Association of Nigeria Incorporated and the Book Sellers Association of Nigeria in Benin.

‎Amodu said the convictions made were for offences which include broadcast and software piracy across the country.

He noted that confiscated items, which were recovered offshore, included religious and academic materials for primary and secondary students, most of which, he said, would be destroyed at the end of investigations.

He said, “The convictions are not only in Edo State but cut across the nation, both on broadcast piracy, optical disc piracy, book and software piracy. The prosecution department, more than ever before, in the NCC ensured these convictions to serve as a deterrent to people involved in piracy‎.

“Equally, the NCC has seized over 20 containers of book on the high sea that were not supposed to come to Nigeria. The financial value of the books is about N6.8 billion; most of them will be burnt.”

Amodu explained the new task force ‎was aimed at complementing the efforts of the commission to eradicate the menace, which he said had been a major source of worry for right owners and other stakeholders.

He, however, urged members of the anti-piracy units not to see their new responsibility as a means to intimidate ‎innocent traders but to keep the commission updated with their operations.

“If we fight piracy with force and we are not moving forward, we will use the people to fight piracy. Now, the NCC will find the associations wanting if we go on inspection and see some of these pirated works in their shops; of course, we will prosecute,” he added.