No longer business as usual for pirates – NCC DG

What is the e-copy right system all about?The e-copy right is a system designed for people to register their works and the essence of that registration is to enable those who want to use people’s works ascertain who actually owns the work before they go ahead and use it. It contains the owners contact details, […]

What is the e-copy right system all about?
The e-copy right is a system designed for people to register their works and the essence of that registration is to enable those who want to use people’s works ascertain who actually owns the work before they go ahead and use it. It contains the owners contact details, so whoever wants to use their work, just has to log on to the e-registration system, the name of the work should come out with who the owner is. So you can contact the person and take permission to use and before the person gives you permission, you would obviously pay for the use of that work. The copy right registration system would capture their work should anyone use them.  Before now, there has been nothing like that, so that is the whole essence.
Presently does the NCC have any bill pending before the National Assembly (NASS)?
We do not have any pending bill before the NASS but we have a bill which is currently being drafted. By June this year we would have drafted and carried out necessary consultations with stakeholders for their input before we finally submit the bill to the Office of the AGF before it goes to the NASS as an executive bill.
What is this bill all about?
It is the bill on the new Nigerian copy right law. It will take into account the issue of addressing copy right in the digital environment. It will cover so many areas which will compensate our stakeholders for the valuable work which they do. The bill will be there to make sure that they get adequate compensation for the work they do.
What is the level of your collaboration with the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) and what has this yielded?
In the last two years, we have had a fantastic collaboration with the NCS which has yielded very positive results in the sense that the NCC has so far confiscated about 16 containers laden with pirated books, DVDs, all coming from China, and without such collaboration, these containers would have found their way into the market.
As recently as December 20, 2013, we took possession of our last container which was laden with pirated books from China. A lot of these books were actually American best sellers. We have notified the American Embassy and the Authors Guild of America to let them know of these seizures and they are very pleased with the NCC drive, especially our collaboration with NCS without which I don’t think we would have been able to seize those containers.
What other aspect of enforcement has the NCC embarked upon?
We have carried out enforcement in notorious piracy markets – Alaba, Arare and Onitsha markets – so the NCC has extended its tentacles. In most cases, some of these enforcement operations in most of these piracy hotbeds have been dangerous but we are bent with our latest enforcement drive on stamping out piracy in Nigeria.
The seizures we have made in the last two years could be worth N8 billion in street value, which were seized and removed from the market places and other piracy outlets.
What advice do you have for the pirates?
My advice for the pirates has always been that it is better for them to know that it is no longer business as usual so it is time for them to get another job, because we cannot stand by and allow them to ruin the lives of well-meaning and hard working Nigerians. Piracy would no longer be a profitable business in Nigeria.
What progress has the NCC made in the area of prosecution?
In the last two years, NCC has obtained convictions in 45 piracy cases. So as we speak, the NCC has 45 convictions ranging from prison sentence to heavy fines. This is a thing Nigeria should be proud of because it has never happened. Many people marvel at these despite the inadequacies in our legal system.
Although it has been rigorous getting those convictions but we must send out the message to the pirates that this is a crime for which you can get a criminal conviction and also go to jail. The fight continues but it has not been easy.