Appraisal of Ownership Rights under the Nigerian Copyright Act 2022

Abstract

The 17th of March 2023 signalled a new dispensation in the Nigerian Copyright administration, as the Copyright Act 2022 came into force. In line with the recent enactment, this study appraised ownership rights under the Copyright Act 2022. In achieving this, the doctrinal, empirical, and causal research methodology were employed such that 185 copyright owners were surveyed, and the study found that while many are aware of copyright and ownership, a significant number are unaware of the CA 2022. Despite this, few owners believe the Act effectively protects copyright ownership challenges. The novel provisions of Copyright Act 2022 in Nigeria include provisions for digital infringement, liability for property owners, stiffer penalties for infringement of copyright and additional powers for the Nigerian Copyright Commission, among others.  However, few participants of the studied population are aware of these provisions, suggesting that more needs to be done to promote creativity and help creators exclusively reap the fruit of their works. Conclusively, true change cannot be found in creation of a law, but rather in its implementation and compliance. The authors recommend that stakeholders educate the public about the benefits of copyright protection to promote full potential of the CA 2022.