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AS part of the country’s response to the challenges of copyright protection in emerging digital technology, Nigeria has deposited Instruments of Ratification of four Copyright Treaties at the 57th Assembly of member states of the World Intellectual Property Organisation, WIPO, Geneva, Switzerland.
The instruments of ratification were handed over to the director general of WIPO, Francis Gurry last week during the plenary at the 57th general assembly by Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Amb. Audu Kadiri. He was assisted by Afam Ezekude, director general, Nigerian Copyright Commission.
A statement issued in Abuja, by Ijeoma Egbunike, noted that the ratification of the treaties affirmed Nigeria’s acceptance and its undertaking to faithfully perform and carry out obligations under the treaties. According to her, “the Treaties ratified are the WIPO Copyright Treaty, WCT, WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, WPPT, Beijing Treaty on Audio Visual Performances and Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind, visually impaired or otherwise print disabled.”
She added that the WCT and WPPT, often referred to as “Internet Treaties”, was the response of international intellectual property community to the challenges of copyright protection in the emerging digital technology driven environment. She said the treaties seek to redefine rights of authors and copyright owners in a manner that makes them applicable and enforceable in the context of digital environment.
Egbunike said: “The process for the ratification of the four treaties was initiated by the director general, Nigerian Copyright Commission, Afam Ezekude. In July 2017, following a presentation of council memo to the Federal Executive Council by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Council approved the ratification of the treaties, which was subsequently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Nigeria was among the member countries of WIPO that signed the WIPO Copyright Treaty, WCT and the WIPO Performances and Phonogram Treaty, WPPT, in 1996 when both instruments were adopted in a diplomatic conference held in Geneva on December 20, 1996, at a time when the pioneer director general of NCC, Moses Ekpo served as the president of the WIPO general assembly. Nigeria also signed the Beijing Treaty on Audio Visual Performances in Beijing on June 24, 2012, and the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind or visually impaired or otherwise Print Disabled in Marrakesh on June 27, 2013, respectively.
“Nigeria stands to derive benefits from this instrument when its provisions are eventually domesticated in the revised Copyright bill being proposed by the NCC. This treaty is particularly germane to the operations of the new system of collective management of rights in audiovisual works, as it will strengthen and expand opportunities for players in the industry.”
– Oct 12, 2017 @ 11:15 GMT /
Tags: Abubakar Malami Afam Ezekude Amb. Audu Kadiri. Geneva Nigeria submits Treaties Ratification on Copyright Protection President Muhammadu Buhari Switzerland
