The federal government is considering a blanket ban on the importation of compact discs (CDs), to check the growing activities of intellectual thieves, unarmed but very dangerous set of people.
CommunicationsWeek
investigations reveal that the move by the government is coming after intelligence reports indicating that large quantities of pirate discs are being exported from Nigeria to neighboring countries.
Adulteration of CDs, VCDs, CD-ROMs and DVDs, CD-Rs and DVD-Rs containing protected music, sound recordings, audiovisual works, business and entertainment software , books and journals have become a common thing . People who labour to put their works together are deprived the proceeds from such efforts while pirates who live on the effort of others smile to the banks
It is really a bad situation not minding the renewed fight against intellectual property theft in the country that Alaba International Market, Ojo, and Otigba, also known as Computer Village, both in Lagos are still a beehive of piracy activities.
CommunicationsWeek
also gathered that apart from Alaba and Otigba, no less than 30 optical disc replication plants and 10 mastering plants dot the length and breadth of the country.
It is also alleged that these plants which often operate in the guise of plastic or footwear manufacturing companies are controlled by a gang of unscrupulous Nigerians and their Southeast Asian accomplices.
These thieves CommunicationsWeek, gathered use blank recordable optical media to "burn" unauthorized copies of artiste’s work or other software on commercial basis.
The boom in intellectual theft property has continued unabated in complete ignorance of the existence of strong legal framework that regulates optical disc production and licensing (and revocation/renewal system), including source identification code requirements for discs, stampers, and masters, licensing of import raw materials and equipment, inspection authority, and sanctions for plants violating the law.
Nigeria has been known as safe haven for stolen intellectual works and attempts by Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Business Software Alliance, foremost organization dedicated to promoting a safe and legal digital world to stem the tide have yielded little or no results.
