By Ade Adeloye , Ibadan
Director General of Nigerian Copyright Commissioner (NCC), Dr John Asein has said that the commission is finding it difficult to prosecute copyright offenders in Nigeria because of the justice system in the country that always allows adjournments.
Dr. Asein declared that offenders counsel always hid under this to form a series of adjournments for years, noting that the authors in most cases lost interest due long adjournment.
Also , NCC Director General who cited a case in Ogun state as an example declared that , “when the case suffered from long adjournment the trial judge can retire and the case will be transfer to another judge to start again.”.
“”We have many laws in our constitution with heavy penalties for the offenders but it is only when such a case is concluded that such judgement can be obtained “.
Apart from this ,Dr.Asein noted that the culprits at time reach out to the author and in such the author show no interest in the prosecution again .
He hinted that the advent of social media has been a blessing as well as a curse because of its attendant problems.
On piracy of materials, movies, he said the commission has taken some step to protect the publishing space.
The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) on Wednesday lamented the outrageous costs of book review imposed by the State Governors across the country, especially Governors in the six South West states, declaring that it is responsible for the high cost of books .
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Publishers Association, Mr Emmanuel Abimbola made this declaration yesterday during a media parley with newsmen at the NUJ, Oyo State Council, Ibadan .
Mr Abimbola who was flanked by the Director of Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC Dr John Assein and Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Ademola Babalola further explained that the exorbitant cost imposed on book review is only peculiar to the South West zone adding that the publishers don’t experience such difficulties in the South East zone where N50,000 is charged for book review.
He stressed that as much as he supports periodic book review to ascertain the quality of books used by students, he said education is a social service that citizens should enjoy.
