Stakeholders applaud NCC anti-piracy operations

Foreign and indigenous Book Publishers and other stakeholders in the Copyright industry recently expressed appreciation at the efforts of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) at fighting piracy. Members of the International Book Publishers Association, the British Council, and the Nigeria Publishers Association (NPA) made this known during a meeting of International Publishers and the British […]

Foreign and indigenous Book Publishers and other stakeholders in the Copyright industry recently expressed appreciation at the efforts of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) at fighting piracy.
Members of the International Book Publishers Association, the British Council, and the Nigeria Publishers Association (NPA) made this known during a meeting of International Publishers and the British Council organized by Elsevier, an international Publishing Company based in Amsterdam held in Lagos recently.
Speaking at the meeting, host and Regional Manager Africa for Elsevier, Herna Van Wyk said the meeting was aimed at creating a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the problems affecting the copyright Industry.
She thanked the Commission and NPA for the work done so far at combating Piracy while stressing that more needs to be done as copyright infringement of foreign books are currently on the high in the country.
Wyk noted that from similar discussion held in other meetings with Publishers overseas, areas that need to be addressed include Strengthening of Ports Monitoring; Source Country Tracking; Secure Storage facilities for Original works; Empowering of the NCC and partnering EFCC and other relevant sister agencies.
Other stakeholders took turns to further appreciate the Commission, stress the damaging effect of piracy; lodge complaints and needs for more anti-piracy operations and support for the Commission.
A representative of a publishing outfit in the United Kingdom whose titles include “French to Dictionary” a heavily pirated book commended the Commission for handing over about 4,000 pirated copies of the book to them which were part of the content of a container intercepted by the Commission in 2014.
Zonal Director, NCC Lagos Zonal office, Barr Chris Nkwocha revealed plans by the Commission to carry out inspections and random checks in schools across the country to curb incidences of Piracy at that level.
Copies of the Copyright Act and achievements of the Commission were distributed at the meeting.