NCC Seizes N2m Pirated Books In Omoku

The Director-General of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr. John Asein, has reiterated the Commission’s determination to enforce zero tolerance for piracy in all its forms, warning that anyone found reproducing or selling pirated books would face the full weight of the law.

Asein, who spoke through the Director of the NCC Port Harcourt Office, Mr. Abdulsalam Babatunde, gave the warning during an enforcement operation at Omoku Main Market in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government of Rivers state over the week, where pirated textbooks worth over N2 million were confiscated.

He urged members of the public, particularly schools, tertiary institutions, booksellers and other users of literary works, to patronise only authorised authors and publishers and refrain from purchasing pirated publications.

The NCC Director-General said the Commission would continue to execute its mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act, stressing that persons involved in the reproduction and sale of pirated books would be dealt with according to the law.

The operation, conducted on Thursday, September 17, involved personnel of the NCC and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), resulting in the arrest of two suspects.

Babatunde equally warned persons involved in the sale of pirated materials in Rivers State and neighbouring states to desist from the practice, stressing that the law would catch up with those who violate copyright provisions.

A publisher, Mr. Friday Ijere, decried the losses being suffered by publishers and authors as a result of piracy, noting that pirates were making unscrupulous gains from intellectual works belonging to others.

Ijere called for sustained sensitisation campaigns to enlighten booksellers, schools and other users of literary works on the dangers and consequences of patronising pirated publications.

He said piracy was seriously affecting the publishing industry, as the practice deprives publishing firms and authors of legitimate income and undermines the efforts invested in producing literary works.

The two suspects arrested during the operation claimed they were unaware that the books they had purchased were pirated, insisting that they had bought them believing they were genuine copies.

One of the suspects said the arrest had become fqqaaan eye-opener, explaining that they would not have knowingly purchased books they suspected to be pirated.

They subsequently promised to desist from patronising pirated publications and ensure that they purchase books only from authorised sources in the future.

The enforcement operation underscores the NCC’s renewed efforts to curb the circulation of pirated literary works and protect the rights and economic interests of authors, publishers and other copyright owners.