The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) has welcomed the operationalisation of Nigeria’s copyright levy system, describing it as an important development in strengthening the protection of intellectual property and improving financial returns for writers and other creative professionals.
The announcement was made during the opening of ANA’s 45th International Convention at the Mamman Vatsa Writers’ Village in Abuja on October 30.
ANA President, Dr. Usman Oladipo Akanbi, commended the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), led by its Director-General, Dr. John Asein, for facilitating the process and advancing the administration of authors’ rights.
The copyright levy is provided for under Section 89 of the Copyright Act 2022. It is designed to compensate copyright owners for private, non-commercial reproduction of protected works, including photocopying and digital scanning.
According to reports, the levy applies at a rate of five per cent to selected electronic devices, storage media, printers, photocopiers, phones and cloud services capable of storing or reproducing copyrighted works.
The Federal Government has reportedly released an initial ₦1.21 billion through the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
For Nigerian authors, publishers and other rights holders, the development could create an additional revenue stream from the use of copyrighted materials.
The NCC Director-General reiterated the Commission’s commitment to strengthening copyright protection and ensuring that creators receive appropriate rewards for their intellectual and creative investments.
He also warned against piracy, describing unauthorised reproduction of creative works as a threat to authors’ income, publishing investments and the sustainability of the creative economy.
The development is particularly important for Nigeria’s publishing, music, film, broadcasting and digital content industries, where copyright protection remains central to commercial exploitation and the economic value of creative works.
Effective implementation, transparent collection and equitable distribution of the levy will be essential to ensuring that the intended beneficiaries actually receive the benefits.
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- Source: The Guardian – Copyright levy: ANA hails development as NCC moves to boost authors’ earnings
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