Politics
THE Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) on Tuesday sensitised booksellers in Ogun on the dangers of selling pirated books.
Speaking at the programme in Abeokuta, the Director-General of NCC, John Asein, emphasised the importance of purchasing books from legitimate publishers.
Asein, represented by the State Coordinator, Mrs Oluropo Oke, said that it was important to ensure that authors and publishers were rightly compensated for their intellectual and financial investments.
He stressed the need for booksellers to support publishers by purchasing original books.
“We want authors to be recognised and rewarded for their labour, which involves considerable financial and intellectual effort.
“Patronising the right sources allows publishers to benefit economically from their production,” he said.
The NCC DG warned that the commission would conduct routine, unscheduled inspections of bookshops across the state, with non-compliance facing legal consequences.
The director-general also acknowledged the concerns raised by booksellers regarding the quality of books provided by some publishers.
He assured them that the commission would address the issue by engaging with publishers to ensure improvements in the quality of their books.
Mr Emmanuel Abimbola, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Publishers Association, highlighted the dangers of piracy and how it undermined the economy and intellectual industry.
“We are glad that the message has been well received. Booksellers are now more aware of the laws and dangers of engaging in piracy,” he said.
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo represented by Mrs Oluwakemi Abeke, called for collaboration between booksellers and publishers, urging for a review of certain laws affecting both groups.
“Henceforth, no booksellers must sell fake books again, if anyone notices any person selling fake books, the person should be reported to the right authority.
“You must collaborate together and I want smooth relationship between the booksellers and the publishers,” he said. (NAN)
A.I
Oct. 15, 2024
Tags: John Asein Mr Emmanuel Abimbola Mrs Oluropo Oke NCC
