The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has apprehended three bookshop owners in Rivers State for their alleged involvement in book piracy. The Director of the NCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate, Mr. Abdul Babatunde, disclosed this following an anti-piracy operation within the Port Harcourt metropolis.
Babatunde revealed that the commission confiscated suspected pirated books worth N3 million during the operation. The suspects are currently under investigation and will be prosecuted once their involvement is confirmed.
As part of its mandate, the NCC is focused on protecting the rights of authors and other stakeholders in the copyright ecosystem, ensuring that creators are rewarded for their hard work. Babatunde stressed the commission’s commitment to reducing piracy in Rivers and Bayelsa to the barest minimum.
He reiterated the NCC’s zero-tolerance stance on piracy under the leadership of Director-General Dr. John Asien and warned booksellers, printers, and importers against infringing on intellectual property.
“Patronizing pirates is a criminal offense and a violation of Section 44 of the Copyright Act, 2022. It undermines creativity and the economy,” Babatunde stated, urging the public to purchase books from authorized dealers rather than middlemen or unauthorized sellers.
He also called on the public to provide credible information to help the commission combat piracy more effectively.
One of the suspects, Mrs. Chinyere Ezediora, claimed to be unaware of the anti-piracy laws, saying, “I heard about book piracy for the first time when the commission came for the arrest.” She urged the NCC to increase public awareness about piracy laws.
