- Hundreds of copies of suspected pirated works were confiscated
In a bid to combat book piracy, the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Thursday arrested eight individuals for selling pirated books and sealed their shops at the popular Sapon booksellers’ hub and Sango Ota.
The enforcement team, led by Mrs. Oluropo Oke, State Coordinator from the NCC Ibadan office, was accompanied by armed officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The operation began at Under Bridge, Sango Ota, where two alleged sellers of pirated books were arrested and their shops sealed. Hundreds of copies of suspected pirated works were confiscated.
The team then proceeded to Sapon Market, Abeokuta, where six additional alleged sellers of pirated books were arrested, their shops sealed, and numerous books seized.
Mrs. Oke stated that the NCC’s aim is to enforce the law and prevent those undermining the economic efforts of legitimate authors and publishers. “Piracy harms society, damages the economy, and promotes substandard goods,” she said.
According to the Copyright Act of 2022, offenders may face up to five years in prison. Mrs. Oke urged booksellers to resist dealing with pirates and instead buy and sell original books from publishers.
Publisher Mr. Olatunde Oguniran, who participated in the enforcement operation, described piracy as harmful and demoralizing. “Piracy saddens publishers and writers because others are driving them out of business while making a profit,” he said.
The NCC’s efforts are part of a broader campaign to protect intellectual property rights and promote Nigeria’s economic growth.