The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has issued a strong advisory to businesses and organisations across the country, mandating them to obtain proper licences for the use of copyrighted content in their operations. This directive is in line with the newly enacted Copyright Act of 2022, which expands protection for creators and empowers regulatory enforcement.
In a statement signed by its Director-General, Dr. John Asein, the Commission warned operators of public and commercial establishments — including hotels, restaurants, bars, clubs, gyms, event centres, cinemas, supermarkets, malls, shops, transport services, telecom firms, and broadcasters — that failure to secure proper authorization constitutes a violation of copyright law.
“The new law strengthens the rights of authors, composers, performers and producers of musical and audiovisual works by granting them exclusive control over how their works are used in public spaces,” Asein said. “This includes public performance, broadcast, communication to the public, or making works available to the public.”
To comply with the law, businesses must now obtain appropriate permissions through accredited Collective Management Organisations (CMOs), which are authorized to collect royalties on behalf of copyright holders. These CMOs include:
Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) – for musical works and sound recordings
Audiovisual Rights Society of Nigeria Ltd/Gte (AVRS) – for film and audiovisual content
The NCC further revealed that it will commence nationwide enforcement through routine inspections by designated Copyright Officers. Any entity found using copyrighted content without authorization will face civil liabilities and criminal prosecution.
This enforcement move aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to growing Nigeria’s creative economy and ensuring fair returns for creatives and rightsholders. The Commission urged all relevant stakeholders to act swiftly and bring their operations in line with the law.
