Nigerian Copyright Fee donates seized Bibles to Correctional Centres, warns in opposition to piracy
The Nigerian Copyright Fee (NCC) has donated confiscated copies of the Holy Bible to Correctional Centres, remand properties and different custodial establishments throughout the nation for humanitarian use.
Talking in the course of the official handover ceremony in Lagos, the Director-Common of the Fee, Dr. John Asein, mentioned the initiative demonstrates the company’s dedication to implementing copyright legal guidelines whereas respecting the spiritual sensibilities of Nigerians.
He defined that trendy editions of the Bible, together with their translations, annotations and commentaries, are protected beneath the Copyright Act, 2022, as literary works regardless of their spiritual significance.
Asein famous that Part 9 of the Act grants copyright holders unique rights to breed, publish, distribute and adapt their works, stressing that these protections lengthen to non secular publications such because the Bible, Qur’an and different faith-based texts.
He warned that unauthorised replica, importation or sale of such works with out the permission of copyright house owners quantities to infringement and constitutes a felony offence beneath Nigerian regulation.
In line with him, piracy undermines the investments of publishers and translators, encourages unlawful commerce, deprives the nation of professional income and weakens respect for mental property rights.
The NCC boss mentioned the Fee would proceed to intercept and prosecute instances involving the unlawful importation and replica of copyrighted supplies consistent with its statutory tasks.
He added that Nigeria’s membership of the World Commerce Organisation (WTO) and its obligations beneath the Commerce-Associated Facets of Mental Property Rights (TRIPS) Bargain require the nation to forestall pirated items from getting into professional markets.
Asein additional disclosed that the Fee collaborates with the Nigeria Customs Service and different enforcement companies to make sure pirated supplies are intercepted on the nation’s borders.
Whereas noting that the regulation permits the destruction of seized pirated supplies, he mentioned the Fee adopted a unique method concerning spiritual texts attributable to their non secular significance.
“Out of respect for the sanctity of those supplies, the Fee considers it inappropriate to destroy them. As a substitute, the seized Bibles have been marked ‘Not for Sale’ and redirected strictly for non-commercial humanitarian use, notably in correctional centres the place they will assist rehabilitation,” he mentioned.
He additionally highlighted the ethical dimension of piracy, stating that spiritual teachings themselves condemn theft and emphasise equity and respect for the rights of others.
Asein subsequently, referred to as on spiritual leaders together with pastors, imams, evangelists and students to teach their congregations on the significance of respecting copyright legal guidelines and avoiding pirated publications.
He urged spiritual establishments to guide by instance by guaranteeing that supplies used for worship and educating are legally obtained and correctly licensed.
The Director-Common reaffirmed the Fee’s dedication to defending authors, publishers and different creators, stopping the unfold of pirated works each bodily and on-line, and selling lawful entry to data.
He additionally prolonged Easter greetings to Christians, wishing them a peaceable and reflective celebration.