Buhari signs copyright bill to protect authors, toughens sanctions

Copyright (Repeal) Act 2022 and an additional bill recently passed by the National Assembly have been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology Act of 2023 was also signed.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila, said in a statement released on Thursday that the President approved the two bills on March 17.

The Copyright Act 2022, which repeals the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enacts the Copyright Act 2022, regulates, protects, and administers copyright, according to the statement.

Ila stated that the new Copyright Act demonstrates the Buhari administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s creative economy and making it more globally competitive in the digital era.

“The primary objectives of the new law, as stated in Section 1, are to: protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works; facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions; and strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulation, administration, and enforcement.”

According to him, the new Copyright Act expands the rights of authors, increases the penalties for criminal infractions, and “addresses the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works more adequately.”

“The Act also provides access to learning and reading materials in accessible formats for blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals,” he said.

He stated that the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos Act, 2023 repeals the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018 and enacts the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos Act, 2023 to make the institution more effective in carrying out its duties.

The new act aims, among other things, to strengthen the organizational framework and bring its provisions into conformity with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the democratic principles and operations of existing educational institutions.Copyright (Repeal) Act 2022 and an additional bill recently passed by the National Assembly have been signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology Act of 2023 was also signed.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila, said in a statement released on Thursday that the President approved the two bills on March 17.

The Copyright Act 2022, which repeals the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enacts the Copyright Act 2022, regulates, protects, and administers copyright, according to the statement.

Ila stated that the new Copyright Act demonstrates the Buhari administration’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s creative economy and making it more globally competitive in the digital era.

“The primary objectives of the new law, as stated in Section 1, are to: protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works; facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions; and strengthen the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulation, administration, and enforcement.”

According to him, the new Copyright Act expands the rights of authors, increases the penalties for criminal infractions, and “addresses the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works more adequately.”

“The Act also provides access to learning and reading materials in accessible formats for blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals,” he said.

He stated that the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos Act, 2023 repeals the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018 and enacts the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos Act, 2023 to make the institution more effective in carrying out its duties.

The new act aims, among other things, to strengthen the organizational framework and bring its provisions into conformity with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the democratic principles and operations of existing educational institutions.

(TNT)