Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) last year seized 1,783,914 copyright works across the country, ranging from DVDs and books to MP3s and software.
In their annual report for the year 2015, the commission revealed that they saved the government and copyright owners from losing over N1.5 billion for the year 2015, after revealing that the estimated market value of the confiscated items was N1,649,343,460.00.
Its anti-piracy operations also led to the arrest of 98 suspected pirates and prompted the public burning of 10.5 million pirated works seized from Kaduna and Kano states in October of last year.
The organisation, which is concerned with the enforcement and regulation of copyright in Nigeria, has credited this achievement to rigorous training of its in-house staff to boost intelligence gathering, positive attitudes and investigative skills.
The commission also reported that Nigeria remained off the United States list of 301 countries perceived to be lacking in efforts to combat intellectual property crimes.
A report combining the efforts of four years – 2011 – 2014, revealed that the commission saved the government from losing N6, 423,221,600 and 443 suspected pirates had been arrested. The report states that the anti-piracy operations had also led to an increase in sales, profits and job creations by 50 percent.
However, to this day, the organisation has expressed concerns that poor financing, corruption and culture are among the challenges hindering its progress.
SEYI ANJORIN
