NCC seek media collaboration in tackling copyright infringemen

 

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Wednesday seeked collaboration of the media across the nation in tackling menace of copyright infringements. 

NCC said that the commission has power to arrest and prosecute people involved in copyright infringements but the commission needs support of journalists to achieve its aims. 

Speaking in Ibadan at a media parley with members of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo state council, NCC Director General, Dr. John Asein said maintained that Copyright infringements has negative impact on the authors.

He said, "We need your support to stamp out copyright infringements. This means we all have responsibility. 

"We have the power to search, arrest and prosecute. But, we rely on police, NSCDC and other security agencies so as to get it done. We have a good working relationship with the security agencies. The problem of enforcement is real."

Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), Emmanuel Abimbola urged governors across southwestern state to reduce fees charges on book review for publishers.

He said reduction of fees charged on them for book review by government will reduce cost of book in market which has became a burden to most Nigerians parents.

He stated that fees charged on book review by government agencies particularly in Southwest is becoming exorbitant 

According to him, an official of the states has once told us that the exobitant fee charged on us for book review was a means of generating revenue which should not be so because education should be a social services

He said, "We dont really have much problem with government of other region because some of them only charge flat rate for the book review which we publishers are ready to cope.

"We are calling on government of states in Southwest to stop the exobitant fee, it is becoming too much, a situation whereby we are asked to pay N10,000 or N12,000 per book title, by the time you calculated it, it will be going to N2 to N3m.

"There should be book review and it should be occasionally done every three  years, but publishers should be not be charge too much.

"The period for book review should be three years for junior secondary schools, three year for senior secondary schools and six years for primary schools."