By Oluwatoyin Adegoke
The Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC, has implored booksellers and other stakeholders in the books distribution chain to work together towards stopping the circulation of pirated books among the people.
Director-General of the NCC, Mr John Asein made the appeal during a sensitization programme for booksellers, at Sapon book market in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while advising them to be vigilant and support the government in eradicating the crime.
Represented by the Coordinator, Ibadan Office of the NCC, Mrs Oluropo Oke, Mr Asein warned that anyone found to be involved in the production or distribution of pirated books would be duly prosecuted while the premises used for such illegal acts would be sealed, urging the booksellers to avoid being lured to support perpetrators of the crime.
Also in a message to the gathering, the Alake and paramount ruler of Egba land, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo encouraged the Booksellers to join the efforts at promoting intellectual property rights in support of genuine authors and publishers.
The traditional ruler who was represented by the Iyaloja-General of Egba land, Chief Oluwakemi Oloyede described piracy as a crime against Nigeria’s economy, urging the booksellers to source materials directly from authorized publishers, recognized in the publishing industry.
Similarly, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Publishers Association, Mr Abiola Abimbola counseled the booksellers to resist the temptation of dealing with pirates, but to insist on buying and selling original books from publishers.
In their contributions, representatives of the booksellers promised to rise against the circulation of pirated books and also appealed to the publishers to improve the quality of their production and uphold standard practices in their business interactions.
Highpoint of the forum was the pardon granted to 8 booksellers who were arrested and had their shops sealed by the NCC during the Commission’s raid in September as they were allowed to sign an undertaken at the meeting, with a promise that they would desist from selling pirated books.
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