The National Working Group of Reproduction Rights Societies of Nigeria (REPRONIG) rose from a two-day meeting on copyright licensing in tertiary institutions, more resolved on the need for adequate compensation of authors for their works.
Members were reacting to the high-level of photocopying and downloads of books in tertiary institutions.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU), and with support from the Nigerian Copyright Commission.
The major focus of the meeting was to develop a framework for collective management and licensing of rights in tertiary institutions for the benefit of authors and publishers.
The group, chaired by the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Landmark University, Prof Aize Obayan, was also charged with examining and defining roles of the various stakeholders in the efficient implementation of the licensing for copyright reproduction.
It was also expected to recommend appropriate strategies for ensuring that authors and tertiary institutions maximise benefits from the system of collective management of rights, and consider the terms of a draft licensing framework.
Participants were drawn from the National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Nigerian Law School and the heads of tertiary institutions and representatives of various associations under REPRONIG.
Lead facilitator was former Chief Executive Officers, Australian Copyright Agency and Vice President, International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), Mr. Jim Alexander.
Nigerian Copyright Commission Director-General, Mr. Afam Ezekude, said the occasion provided an opportunity for sharing of information on the important development in copyright administration as well re-emphasised the relevance of copyright system to national development.
Admitting that the distribution of copyright content has assumed a worrisome dimension in the country, he called for a strong synergy among right owners, investors in creative works, tertiary institutions as well as commercial enterprises.
“It is against this background that we commend the present initiative of REPRONIG in adopting the dialogue and enlightenment approach as a prelude to its licensing drive.
‘’It is our expectation that this will provide a platform for more intense engagement towards finding an effective solution to the issue of appropriate remuneration for reprographic activities of organised institutions and the private sector,”, he said.
The DG said efforts were on-going to reform the framework of the copyright protection to proactively respond to the challenges of the digital environment.
Chairman, REPRONIG and President, Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof Olu Obafemi, said the meeting was in recognition of the important role participants play in rescuing the tertiary book industry in Nigeria.
He noted that authors were some of the most brilliant and celebrated in the world in various disciplines, including fiction and non-fiction, he, however, decried the pitiable fortunes of authors and publishers.
According to him, the inauguration of NWG was a demonstration of the Society’s new policy of inclusiveness and consultations towards addressing the collective management of rights in the literary field, as a first step in finding an enduring solution to some of the challenges that threatened its sustainability.
“Studies have confirmed the huge volume of photocopying and reckless abuse of copyright that goes on in our tertiary institutions. One would have thought that the heads of these institutions, themselves being authors, would be more concerned.
Unfortunately, the experience of the REPRONIG in the last two decades of its operation has been one of total neglect and even disdain from the institutions.
“With the exception of Covenant University, no other university in Nigeria has ever deemed it fit to obtain a reproduction licence,” he said.
Continuing, he added: “By taking a blanket licence, a tertiary institution will not only be avoiding the legal repercussion of the activities of its staff and students, it will also be showing the need to respect copyright, promote and encourage creativity.”
The chairman noted that members of the Working Group were carefully chosen to represent all major stakeholder groups, including the agencies responsible for the setting of standards for tertiary institutions saying: “If Nigerian institutions are to be globally competitive, it is imperative that that we begin to insist on global best practices. Together we speak the same language and that is to ensure adequate recompense for the authors and publishers.”
While commending the Federal Executive Council for approving the ratification of four copyright treaties, Obafemi tasked the government on early deposit of the instrument of ratification.
“And to translate this to concrete gains for Nigeria, we also appeal to government to hasten the transmission of the draft Copyright Bill to the National Assembly for early passage”, he said.
Ahead of the meeting, Obafemi had visited NUC with his team, where he sought the collaboration of the Commission in managing the rights of authors and publishers particularly at the tertiary level.
“REPRONIG is willing to collaborate with NUC in addressing issues of piracy, plagiarism, photocopying, digital downloads and other abuses of copyright in universities
It therefore requests the NUC to include the availability of proper licensing and rights management policy as part of the requirements for the accreditation of universities,” he said.
He continued: “While REPRONIG welcomes the increasing use of electronic libraries in universities, it insists on adequate standards to protect the interest of authors, publishers and guarantee the sustainable growth of the local book industry.”
Several papers were presented at the meeting. The Executive Secretary, REPRONIG, Barrister John Essien, took the meeting on how to reposition REPRONIG for actualisation of its goals.
He also highlighted the association’s mandate, objectives, its activities as well as challenges, and expressed the need for universities to have licences to reproduce.
According to him, an institution can have only one licence to enable the students and lecturers reproduce as stipulated by the body.
He said lack of litigation was not a result of ignorance of the activities of copyright violators, rather, right owners appeared overwhelmed by the level of impunity with which literary works were reproduced.
“The vision of REPRONIG was to have efficient management system for literary works. The mission is to ensure fair recompense for authors and publishers. If these do not happen, we have not started”, Essien said.
An international consultant – former Vice President and Treasurer, IFRRO and former CEO Copyright Agency of Australia, Mr. Jim Alexander, spoke on the global perspeectives of operations and benefits of right reproduction organizations, the tariffs, licensing and distribution of royalties as well as development of framework and strategy for licensing.