Copyright Abuse: Senate considers imprisonment, fine for Facebook, Twitter posts violators
By Abimbola Abatta
Social media users in the country risk at least one-year imprisonment and N2million fine for violating the Copyright Act.
This is coming on the heels of the review of the Copyright Act 2004 by the Senate to make it an offence for Nigerians to broadcast any digital or online work of a performer without first obtaining their consent.
Nigerian NewsDirect reports that the Copyright Act LFN 2004 is the principal law that governs and protects copyrights in the country.
The development, it was learnt, aims to strengthen the copyright regime while also protecting the rights of authors to ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual properties.
The Senate, on Wednesday, passed the proposed legislation titled, ‘A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Copyright Act CAP LFN 2004 and to Re-enact the Copyright Act 2022.’
Senator Mukhail Abiru sponsored the bill which seeks to make the broadcasting or duplication of any online audiovisual work without the consent of the performer an infringement.
Such posts to be considered as an infringement include audio or visual works by a performer posted on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter or any other online platforms.
Clause 73 of the bill provides for a fine of not less than N100,000 or a jail term of not less than one year for an individual and a fine of not less than N2million where criminal liability arises in respect of infringement of performer’s rights.
Clause 65 of the bill states that, “In the absence of express agreement to the contrary, a performer’s consent to the broadcasting of his performance shall be deemed to include his consent to an authorised rebroadcasting of his performance, the fixation of his performance for broadcasting purposes and the reproduction for broadcasting purposes of such fixation.”
Following the consideration and adoption of a report by the Joint Senate Committee on Trade and Investment; and Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, the Senate passed the bill.
In his presentation, Co-Chair of the committee, Senator Saidu Alkali, said the bill essentially seeks to strengthen the copyright regime in Nigeria to enhance the competitiveness of its creative industries in a digital and knowledge-based global economy.
According to the lawmaker, the re-enactment of the Act would effectively protect the rights of authors to ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts.
Alkali added that the bill also provides for new rights of remuneration for performers in respect of audiovisual works.
However, he stated that the legislation would provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works, encourage cultural interchange and advance public welfare.
When signed into law by the President, he explained that the new law would facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and enhance the capacities of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective administration and enforcements of the provisions of the a copyright Act.
In his words, “Piracy of Nigerian creative works has devastated businesses, harmed consumers and acted as disincentive to foreign direct investment in relevant sectors.
“The proposed legislation makes online/digital reproduction an infringement as well as properly defines copy to accommodate transient or non-permanent copy that are obtainable online.”
He further noted that the bill seeks to align Nigeria’s copyright law to be in line with relevant international treaties, including the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.
