Executive secretary of the Nigerian Copyright Commision, Mr. Bayo Atoyebi has said that piracy has turned rights owner of works into paupers.
Bayo in his opening remark at the one day training workshop for management and staff of the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) held in Abuja recently, cited the case of Prince Nico Mbarga, the musician “who produced the widely popular song ‘Sweet mother’ but died of lack”.
In a statement, signed for the executive secretary by Nnene Antia, it stated that the workshop was to educate participants on the provisions of the Copy Right Law, its administration in Nigeria, various challenges faced by the commission in the course of duty, as well as on issues for media practitioners.
He stated that “staff of the council would benefit from the exercise as laws governing plagiarism and copyrights formed part of the provisions of the professional code of ethics for journalists.”
He also emphasised the need for the commission to benefit maximally from the proceeds of their intellectual property and appreciated the gesture of the commission.
Emphasis were also laid on clarification of widely misunderstood concepts of what copyright notion was about , abuse by pirates as well as the need for exploring media partnership for enhanced copyright awareness.
The Director General of the commission, Mr Afam Ezekude underscored the commitment of the commission to the promotion and the sustenance of the benefits accruing from intellectual activities.
He said “piracy was a disincentive to the creativity and property right of citizens and called for a sustained symbiotic relationship between the Press council and the commission with the hope of helping the commission overcome some of the challenges it faces.”
Participants were informed that “it is a policy of the Nigerian Copyright Commission to always partner with the mass media in actualising its mandate”.