As part of measures toward combating the rising cases of piracy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, has commenced compliance inspection and sensitization exercise to printers and printing press in Akwa Ibom State.
Leading the team on the exercise, the NCC State Coordinator in charge of Uyo office, Mrs Cornelia Ibanga, explained that the exercise was to monitor extent of compliance with the NCC Act as well as to sensitise operators and stakeholders on the provisions of the Act as regards to printers and printing press.
Mrs Ibanga noted that the NCC Act stipulates that each printer or printing press keep a record book of its activities with clients detailing the nature of work done including timelines for delivery.
While noting that ignorance of the law was not an excuse, the NCC State Coordinator educated the operators on the consequences of floating the provisions of the act.
Mrs Ibanga stressed that the NCC Act empowers the Commission to carry out the exercise following various meetings and advises to ensure compliance of operators before enforcement.
“In line with the provisions of the NCC Act 2022, the Commission plays the role of regulation which is discussed with stakeholders during sensitization meetings, NCC officers also monitor compliance of the law by inspecting the record books in line with the provisions of the law” Mrs Ibanga explained.
The NCC State Coordinator observed that that most of the printers and operators are oblivious to the Act and it’s provisions as they do not have records or register their activities or dealings with their clients, this she said is against the law and detrimental to their business, making them liable accomplice to pirates.
According to her, “Some of them do not keep records and it cannot be determined what works they have done. It is easy for pirates to employ their services because there are no records to check there’s no accountability and this is against the law. The records will have the date a work is collected, the name of the publisher, title, quantity among others. Accordingly defaulters may face 1 year custodial sentence of a fine of ₦100,000 or both as provided for by the Act.”
Responding on behalf of the printers and operators, Mr Kufre Akpan, while noting that the proliferation of printing press has led to the rising cases of pirates as everyone now acts as a printer, pledged to collaborate with the Commission to stamp out the activities of pirates.
