The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has apprehended three bookshop owners in Rivers State for alleged involvement in book piracy.
Mr. Abdul Babatunde, Director of the NCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate, announced the arrests following an anti-piracy operation in Port Harcourt. During the operation, the commission seized pirated books estimated to be worth N3 million.
Babatunde explained that the suspects are under investigation and will face prosecution once their involvement in the piracy is confirmed. He emphasized that protecting and promoting the rights of authors and investors in the copyright sector is a key mandate of the NCC.
“The commission is dedicated to minimizing piracy activities in Rivers and Bayelsa states,” Babatunde said, adding that the NCC Director-General, Dr. John Asien, has a strict zero-tolerance policy towards piracy and copyright violations.
He warned booksellers, printers, and importers against infringing on intellectual property rights and urged the public not to support piracy, highlighting that doing so is a criminal offense.
“Patronizing pirates contravenes Section 44 of the Copyright Act, 2022. It undermines creativity and the economy,” Babatunde said, advising people to purchase books only from authorized publishers and dealers rather than middlemen, printers, or roadside vendors.
Babatunde also called on the public to provide credible information to assist the NCC in combating piracy.
One of the suspects, Mrs. Chinyere Ezediora, claimed she was new to the business and unfamiliar with the anti-piracy laws. She suggested that the commission increase public awareness about the issue.