Copyright in the era of internet adversity: pre-empting a new dawn for Nigeria

Abstract

ABSTRACT Copyright laws, policies and enforcement mechanisms would be considered weak if infringers reign free. The vulnerability of internet copyrighted materials is dire in the internet age mainly because of the ease of engaging in illegal copying, sharing, downloading, and streaming of copyright materials. Considering this concern, it is reassuring to note that the Nigerian Copyright Commission is awake to the prospects and challenges within this internet access subsector as it recently forwarded a Copyright bill to the legislative chambers. The Bill aims to modernise Nigeria's copyright law by paying more attention to the internet, an area of strategic importance to the Nigerian economy. This paper analyses the Bill and also seeks to explore the potential paths that may be taken by Nigeria in the application of its modernised copyright law.