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The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to curb the sale of pirated copyright materials at the country’s airports and environs, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) is reporting.
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The protection of arts, culture and works in the entire creative industry “is a worthy course which is in line with international aviation protocols,” said the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FAAN, Captain Hamisu Yadudu in Abuja while reiterating his agency’s commitment to ensuring that all activities around the airports were legal.
“The aviation industry does not tolerate or encourage fraudulent activities but ensures that standards are maintained, in line with acceptable practices and regulations,” he added.
The Director General of NCC, Dr. John O. Asein, thanked for joining the fight against copyright piracy even as he lamented that a high number of books and DVDs on display at the nation’s airports were pirated all of which undermine that owners of such intellectual property and further tarnishes the image of the country as a hub for pirated works.
Under the new agreement,operatives of the two agencies will from to time engage in covert operations, surveillance and compliance checks on sales outlets within airports and its immediate precincts.
In attendance at the MoU signing ceremony were Director, Operations, NCC, Mr. Obi Ezeilo; Director, Legal, NCC, Mr. Emeka Ogbonna; Legal Adviser, FAAN, Mrs. Bridget Gold and Assistant General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Mrs. Faithful A. Hope-Ivbaze.
