NCC sensitises booksellers, publishing firms on Copyright Act

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has sensitised stakeholders in Enugu on provisions of the Copyright, rules and regulations guiding its operations.

The stakeholders include publishing firms, booksellers and copyright related business owners.

Our correspondent reports that the exercise, titled, “Monitoring, Inspection and Sensitisation of the Printing/Publishing firms and Booksellers Outlets”, held on Wednesday in Enugu.

Some of the areas covered include Edinburgh, Uwani, Ziks Avenue, Agbani Road, Garki market and Ogbete main market Enugu.

The State Coordinator of NCC, Mr Okwudili-Macfoy Akachukwu, said the exercise was in line with the commission’s effort at cutting down the menace of piracy in the state.

Akachukwu added that the move was also to ensure that businesses dealing with books and creative works were not places for selling pirated works.

“The exercise is all about monitoring and inspecting bookshops and publishing firms to know if they are conducting their businesses in compliance with the stipulation of the Copyright Act,’’ he said.

According to him. some of the shops inspected have been found to be in compliance with the commission’s requirements of a section of the Act.

The coordinator said, however, those that failed to comply were enlightened and advised on what to do to avoid sanctions by the commission.

Akachukwu explained that the Act stipulated that printers were supposed to keep a register that contained the title of the books they were producing, author’s name, year of publication and quantities produced.

“It is not all the time that we go out to raid, we decide to enlighten them today by telling them the benefits of selling genuine copyright works.

“Our team inspected many bookshops, their sources and invoices. They were also advised to desist from piracy or face the full wrath of the law which is now stiffer,’’ he said.

Akachukwu said that those found not to be in compliance risked six years imprisonment or an option of fine or both.

Responding, the Chairman, Enugu Booksellers Association, Mr Sunday Izuma, expressed joy over the sensitisation.

Izuma pledged the association’s willingness to comply with the Act to kick piracy out of the state.