From NCC, regulatory backing for AVRS, MCSN and REPRONIG

One of the major outcomes of the recent stakeholders’ meeting held between the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), the nation’s copyright collective management organisations for audiovisual works; musical works and literary work and stakeholders’ in the media, broadcast, hotel and entertainment industries is the assurance by the NCC that it would provide technical support for three of the recognised Collective Management Organisation (CMO) so that the CMO’s can be able to get the remuneration due to right holders from right users.

Speaking at a stakeholders meeting, which was held at Eko Hotel and attracted representatives and members of the Audio Visual Rights Society of Nigeria (AVRS), Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN), Reproduction Rights Society of Nigeria (REPRONIG), as well as top personalities in the broadcast, media, hotel, legal and creative sectors, the Director General of the NCC. Dr John Asein promised that the NCC would provide technical support for CMOs and stand by them in ensuring that right holders begin to enjoy the dividends of their intellectual properties.

Although the DG advised the CMOs to be more responsive to the needs of their members, stakeholders and the user community, he assured that the Commission is empowered to arrest and deal with defaulters that have refused to comply with the provisions of the Copyright Act.

“Be assured of our backing as a regulator,” the DG said, adding that the NCC will work more with the stakeholders and other relevant federal government agencies within the copyright space to open up the other streams of income for the creators.

Also speaking at the meeting that attracted stakeholders such as the Chairmen of the CMO’s Mahmood Ali-Balogun (AVRS) and Oritz Wiliki (MCSN) and CEO’s of the CMO’s Olubukola Adeyemi (AVRS); Mayo Ayilaran (MCSN) and Kayode Motunrayo (REPRONIG), Secretary of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) Dr. Igomu Onoja, who represented the Director General, assured that the NBC will support the CMOs by ensuring that creative contents broadcast on radio and television stations are paid for.

“Whatever agreement is reached between the CMOs and the broadcasters, NBC working with NCC will ensure it is implemented for the good of all stakeholders concerned,’’ he said.

Addressing the forum that was moderated by Intellectual Property specialist and music business entrepreneur, Dr. Chinedu Chukwuji, Chief Samuel Alabi of Hotel Owners and Managers of Lagos (HOMAL), frowned at the high level of ignorance of what intellectual property or copyright is in Nigeria. The HOMAL Chairman therefore canvassed the need for sustained enlightenment and education of owners and users of creative works.

He also advocated for a copyright tariff panel where issues of rate disagreements can be quickly resolved without going through the long route of the court process.

In his remark, the Chairman of MCSN, Oritz Wiliki who described operating a CMO in Nigeria as daunting also called on the NCC to set up a mediation council that will help resolve copyright disputes quicker and less costly.

On his part, the Chairman of AVRS, Mahmood Ali-Balogun, appealed to users to meet their licensing obligations, as AVRS is the only opportunity for a vast majority of audio-visual creatives to be pensionable. He further said that AVRS would continue to push for better copyright remunerations for the creators and investors in the film industry.