NCC DG seeks specialized lawyers’ intervention in checking intellectual property infringements

Towards addressing piracy, counterfeiting and all sorts of infringements, the Director-General of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Dr John Asein, has called for the intervention of legal practitioners who are specialized in Intellectual Property (IP) law.

The DG while naking the call on Tuesday at the ongoing 2024 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan branch Law Week and 70th Anniversary celebration in Ibadan, underscored the need for Nigeria to have IP specialised lawyers capable of navigating the complexities of domestic and international IP Laws, noting that many creators, entrepreneurs and  innovators often lack the legal knowledge or resources to protect their IP.

Speaking on the topic “Intellectual Rights Infringement In the 21st century”, chaired by Prof. Bankole Shodipo (SAN), and moderated by Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), he called on the Bar to establish pro bono programmes or legal clinics to assist unprecedented groups, including local artisans, in understanding and enforcing their IP rights.

He emphasised that efficient IP system required a society that understands and respects intellectual property rights.

According to him, “Through strategic litigation, lawyers can set important precedents that strengthen the enforcement of IP rights in Nigeria. By tackling cases of piracy, counterfeiting, patent infringement, the Bar can help establish a legal environment where rights owners feel secure in investing in innovation and creativity.

“The recently developed IP policy and strategy must move beyond the Federal Executive Council to actual implementation. The Bar can play a watchdog role, ensuring accountability and adherence to timelines. Lawyers can facilitate partnerships between academia, government, and the private sector to create hubs of innovation where ideas can be protected and commercialised.”

While advocating that the Bar could help integrate Nigeria into global IP frameworks, ensuring that creators and innovators are protected on the world stage, he emphasised that “as the world transitions into an economy driven by knowledge, creativity and innovation, Nigeria cannot afford to stand still. Nigeria is almost 25 per cent down the 21st century highway.

“If we recalibrate our IP system now, the benefits will extend far beyond ratings; we will see an innovation -driven economy where creators, inventors are empowered, industries thrive and Nigeria takes its rightful place on the global stage. This is not just a legal or policy issue, it is an economic and moral imperative. Let us act boldly and swiftly.”

The Chairman of the Panel, Justice (Prof.) Bankole Shodipo, urged lawyers to be innovative and follow the teachings and recommendations made at the programme, while one of the panelists, Mrs Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya from Lagos, stressed that NBA needed to play a major role to create awareness about IP rights.

She said, “Lawyers should educate themselves about IP rights to drive the reforms that are necessary in this area.”