Overview

The Copyright Act 2022 of Nigeria, published as Act No. 8 in the Official Gazette (Vol. 110, No. 56) on March 27, 2023, repeals the Copyright Act, Cap. C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. It comprises 118 sections organized into eight parts, plus schedules. The Act aims to protect copyright and related rights, promote creativity, and provide for exceptions, enforcement, and online content regulation. Part I outlines objectives, works eligible for copyright (literary, musical, artistic, audiovisual works, sound recordings, broadcasts), formalities, subsistence criteria (nationality, country of origin, international agreements), nature of rights (economic and moral), and duration (generally life plus 70 years for works with identified authors). Part II details exceptions for education, archives, libraries, and disabled persons. Part III covers ownership, assignment, and compulsory licenses. Part IV defines infringement and civil remedies (injunctions, damages, accounts of profits). Part V establishes criminal liability with fines and imprisonment. Part VI mandates anti-piracy measures, technological protection, and rights management information. Part VII provides for notice-and-takedown of online infringing content, suspension of repeat infringers, and blocking of access. Part VIII contains miscellaneous provisions (regulations, transitional). Key definitions include 'broadcast', 'copyright', 'infringing copy', 'reproduction', and 'work of government'. The Act also establishes the Nigerian Copyright Commission to administer its provisions.

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