The Nigerian Copyright Commission in March this year carried out a successful
anti-piracy raid in Lagos State.
During the operation, which was
tagged "Operation No Breathing Space", the Commission raided seven
warehouses within Apapa which were found to contain several thousands of cartons
of pirated textbooks, motivational books, bibles, dictionaries and medical and
health books belonging to various publishers. The anti-piracy operation led to
the confiscation of thousands of cartons of pirated works worth N600 Million.
The Nigerian Copyright Commission has again carried out another successful
anti-piracy raid at Tedi Village in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos
State. The anti-piracy raid culminated in the seizure of about two thousand
cartons of pirated books belonging to various publishers. The Commission also
arrested a Chinese nationale in connection with the pirated books. The seized
books are worth over N200 Million.
The success of these
anti-piracy operations is as a result of the standing collaboration between the
Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Nigeria Police. We thank the Nigeria
Police for their immense support in the fight against piracy.
If these pirated books
were allowed to enter the Nigerian market, Nigerian copyright owners will be
losing their works to pirates.
The Commission remain
determined to sustain the fight against piracy. Nigerian Copyright Commission
urge the Copyright owners and owner-associations to deepen their support for
the Commission in the fight against piracy. Their support is very crucial in
intelligent gathering, investigation and prosecution of Copyright offenders. As
usual, the Commission will investigate this seizure and all other credible
information leading to the prosecution of offenders.
We warn all pirates to desist from importing
pirated books as the Commission is more determined ever than before to seize
them and prosecute the offenders.
We look forward to sustain collaboration between
the Copyright owners, other sister government agencies and the Nigerian
Copyright Commission in the fight against piracy. Together we can ensure that
our creative industry earn substantial income from their creativity which will
further lead to increased investment and employment in the sector.
Mr. Afam Ezekude
Director General (Nigerian Copyright Commission)
No comments:
Post a Comment