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Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, in a bid to fight against piracy in the entertainment industry, has said that a law would be enacted to provide a comprehensive protection of rights as well as stringent penalties for violations.
During the 2015 Copyright Society of Nigeria, COSON lecture with the theme, ‘Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Economy’ held in Lagos, the Vice President, represented by Mr. Afam Ezekude, Director-General, Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, pledged the support of the government to the fight against piracy in the industry.
According to the Vice President, “The law will provide sanctions that are directly proportional to the unlawful profit made by those that infringe on the intellectual property of others.”
He stressed on the need for a review of copyright laws, noting that the law will also create a seamless transition from analogue to digital modes of exploitation.
“The review of copyright laws is critical to the survival of the copyright system in Nigeria and, especially, given the need for the nation to diversify its economy,” Osinbajo said, urging Nigerians to respect the rights of creators and shun acts of criminality with respect to creative works.
“The potential of the creative industry as economic drivers cannot be overemphasized. Their wealth creation and employment generation prospects are very significant,” he stressed.
In his opinion, Prof. Bankole Sodipo, the guest lecturer, said the entertainment industry will improve significantly if the requisite facilities were put in place.
Sodipo, in his lecture, urged the Federal Government to improve infrastructure, encourage local hardware production and also to promote digital literacy.
Commending the efforts of the NCC in its fight against the pirating of intellectual property in the industry, Sodipo called on Nigerians and relevant stakeholders to support the implementation of the copyright bill that was recently sent to the National Assembly.
He also added that the bill on the review of copyright laws must be approved and signed into law to protect intellectual property right of owners.
Subsequently, the chairman, COSON, Mr. Tony Okoroji, said that his organisation would continue to create good atmosphere for creative works to thrive in the industry.
The chairman also added that COSON would continue to encourage creativity in the entertainment industry.
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