The Copyright Bill, 2022 was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari on the 17th of March 2023. The Copyright Act 2022 (the Act) repeals the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The Act addresses the erstwhile major challenges that copyright holders experience in the digital space and provides right holders amongst others, with the right to take measures against online infringements of copyright works.
A few highlights of the innovative provisions of the Act include the (i) protection of encrypted work and media contents, (ii) suspension of accounts of repeated infringers, (iii) issuance of take-down orders to service providers for infringing works, (iv) additional protection for performer’s right and (v) expanded scopes of offences, for example refusing to pay royalty upon demand, demand for log and statements by artist amongst others.
The changes under the Act will certainly be of enormous benefit to creators, innovators, and brand owners, particularly, those in the digital space.
A comprehensive review of the Act will be shared in our quarterly IP Newsletter.
