Copyright Commission Nabs 8 Over Sales of Pirated Books
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has arrested eight persons for selling pirated books in Ogun state.
The arrests were carried out on Thursday at the popular Sapon booksellers’ hub in Sango-Ota, Ogun state.
The State Coordinator from the NCC Ibadan office, Mrs Oluropo Oke, led the arrest, along with armed officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Two alleged sellers of pirated books were apprehended at Under Bridge, Sango Ota, with hundreds of copies of books suspected to be pirated, with their shops sealed.
Another six alleged sellers of pirated books were arrested at the Sapon Market, Abeokuta, the suspected books seized and their shops sealed.
Oke stressed that the enforcement of piracy laws in Nigeria was the goal of the operation.
She stated that rights of authors and publishers needed to be protected and that the arrests would deter pirates who seek to benefit unduly from the works of legitimate intellectual property owners.
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“The purpose of today’s exercise is to tackle the activities of pirates, as piracy harms society. It damages the economy and promotes substandard goods. Piracy prevents rightful owners from benefiting both morally and economically from their intellectual labour.
“It discourages authors because they are denied the right to enjoy the rewards of their hard work.
“One of the Commission’s statutory mandates is to enforce the law, regulate, and prosecute copyright offenders. As part of today’s operation, the owners of eight bookshops selling pirated works were arrested.
“And if these offenders are found guilty, I can assure you they will face jail time. Under the Copyright Act of 2022, this offence attracts a five-year prison sentence,” Oke said while warning pirates to desist from their acts.
