The Nigerian Copyright Commission has announced the arrest of three bookshop owners in Rivers State for allegedly being involved in book piracy.
The Director of the NCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate, Mr. Abdul Babatunde, after an anti-piracy operation in the Port Harcourt area on Tuesday, reported that the commission seized suspected pirated books valued at N3 million during the operation.
He stated that the suspects are currently under investigation and will be prosecuted once their involvement in the illegal activity is confirmed.
The NCC director emphasized that protecting and promoting the rights of authors and other stakeholders in the copyright sector is a key part of the commission’s mission. He added, “The commission also ensures that authors and artists get the rewards of their hard work.”
Babatunde noted that the NCC is dedicated to minimizing the activities of pirates in Rivers and Bayelsa states. “The commission is committed to seeing that the activities of pirates in Rivers and Bayelsa are reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.
He highlighted the NCC’s zero-tolerance stance on piracy and copyright violations, echoing the policy of NCC Director-General Dr. John Asien. Babatunde also issued a warning to booksellers, printers, and importers against stealing intellectual property.
The director urged the public not to support piracy, saying, “Patronising pirates is a contravention of Section 44 of the Copyright Act, 2022. Patronising piracy is to kill creativity and the economy.” He encouraged people to buy books from publishers and authorized dealers instead of middlemen, printers, and roadside sellers.
Babatunde also called on the public to assist the commission by providing credible information that could help combat piracy in the state.
One of the suspects, Mrs. Chinyere Ezediora, expressed her surprise during her arrest, telling reporters, “I heard about book piracy for the first time when the commission came for arrest in our shop. I urge the commission to sensitise the public more about the issue. The public needs to be more informed about the law.”
The NCC continues to work towards reducing piracy and protecting the rights of authors across Nigeria.
