Why Buhari signed new Copyright Right bill into law — Hon Ila

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Why Buhari signed new Copyright Right bill into law — Hon Ila

In a bid to protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works, the copyright right act amendment bill has been signed into law but President Muhammadu Buhari.

Also assented to was Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos bill.

It will be recalled that the 2 bills were recently passed by the National Assembly.

In a statement made available to Journalists, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on

National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Hon. Nasiru Baballe Ila said the two bills were assented to by the President on 17th March, 2023.

The statement reads: “Copyright Act 2022, this Act repeals the Copyright Act, Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and enact the Copyright Act 2022 to provide for the regulation, protection and administration of copyright. The enactment of the new Copyright Act has again demonstrated the commitment of this administration to re-energizing Nigeria’s creative economy and making it more globally competitive in the digital age.

“The principal objectives of the new law, as outlined in section 1 are to: protect the rights of authors and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts; provide appropriate limitations and exceptions to guarantee access to creative works; facilitate Nigeria’s compliance with obligations arising from relevant international copyright treaties and conventions; and enhance the capacity of the Nigerian Copyright Commission for effective regulation, administration, and enforcement.

“The new Copyright Act expands the rights of authors, raises the sanctions for criminal infringements and more adequately addresses the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works. The Act also provides specially for the needs blind, visually impaired and print disabled persons to have access to learning and reading materials in accessible formats.

“On Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Act, this Act repeals the Federal School of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018 and enacts the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos Act, 2023, establishes the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science, Jos, to make the Institution more effective in the discharge of its functions by strengthening the organisational framework, and to bring its provision in conformity with current democratic principles and operations of existing educational institutions, and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”