By Olukoya Idris
Lagos State, Aug. 23, 2023(NAN) The Nigerian Copyright Commission(NCC), on Friday, confiscated suspected pirated books with N50million and also arrested suspected pirates in yaba area of Lagos state.
Mr Charles Amudipe, the Deputy Director of Operations/Head of Operations of the commission in Lagos office, said that the action was part of the commission mandate to eradicate piracy in our society.
He added that, part of the commission mandate was to regulate copyright industry in Nigeria by reducing the level of piracy to the barest minimum.
"Today, the commission carried out an anti-piracy action in Yaba Book Market, which was led by the Head of Operations in NCC, Lagos office.
"During the said anti-piracy operation, give bookshops and three warehouses(parking stores).
"Where suspected pirated books were stored around Yaba market were visited.
"Materials suspected to be pirated were seized and owners of those bookshops were arrested, " he said.
Amudipe mentioned shops that were visited include; warehouse(parking stores), Chuks, Edu and Don mekus bookshops, all in Yaba area of Lagos state.
The deputy director of operations in NCC, Lagos office, said that the anti-piracy raid was to send signal to the public that the commission has upscaled it's enforcement activities.
"The commission warns booksellers, schools, printers and all those who deal in copyright materials that the commission will not tolerate piracy in any form, " he said.
He noted that the community was aware that pirates books are pushed directly to schools for sales.
He therefore, warned any schools found aiding the sales of pirates books would be treated as book pirates.
"The commission hereby mandate all printers, booksellers and schools who deal in book selling should have adequate documentation about the source of the books they are dealing in.
"Any printer who is not keeping the expected record according to the copyright act will be severely dealt with.
'All those who engage in book selling should have proper receipts for evidence of purchase of books from the right source, " he said.
Earlier, Mrs Lynda Alphaeus, the director/head of Lagos office of the commission warned all house owners used as warehouse for books, should ensure that their houses are not used to aid the activities of pirates.
Alphaeus representing the Director-General of the commission, said that the commission observed that according to the provision of section 86 of the copyright Act, the commission has the right to seal any house or build used to warehouse pirated materials.(NAN).(wwe.nannews.ng).
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