The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has arrested three bookshop owners in Rivers State for their alleged involvement in book piracy. Abdul Babatunde, Director of the NCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate, revealed on Tuesday that the operation within Port Harcourt led to the confiscation of pirated books valued at approximately N3 million.
Babatunde indicated that the suspects are under investigation and will face prosecution once their involvement is fully determined. He emphasized that the NCC’s role includes safeguarding the rights of authors and others in the copyright industry, ensuring that creators receive proper compensation for their work.
He stated that the commission aims to minimize piracy in Rivers and Bayelsa States. Babatunde highlighted that the NCC Director-General, John Asien, has a strict no-tolerance policy towards piracy and copyright infringement. He also cautioned booksellers, printers, and importers against intellectual property theft and urged the public not to support pirates, as it constitutes a criminal offense.
