TheCable

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to curb the sale of pirated materials at the nation’s airports and environs.

According to NAN, Vincent Oyefeso, NCC director of public affairs, said this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

Oyefeso said John Asein, NCC director-general and Rabiu Yadudu, managing director of FAAN, signed the MoU recently in Abuja.

Asein appreciated FAAN for supporting the commission’s fight against copyright piracy.

He expressed concern that books and digital video discs (DVDs) on display were pirated at the nation’s airports.

“Apart from the injury to right owners, the display of pirated materials was tarnishing the image of Nigeria in the sight of airport users,” he said.

On his part, Yadudu restated the agency’s commitment to ensuring that all activities around the airports were legal.

According to him, the aviation industry does not tolerate or encourage fraudulent activities but ensures that standards are maintained in line with acceptable practices and regulations.

He, therefore, warned all airport users, including passengers, handlers, concessionaires and shop operators, to always ensure that their operations did not jeopardise the interests of other persons.

The FAAN MD added that the protection of arts, culture and works in the entire creative industry was “a worthy cause which is in line with international aviation protocols”.

He welcomed the NCC proposal for operatives of the two agencies to engage in covert operations, surveillance and compliance checks of sales outlets.

The provisions of the MOU cover joint enforcement to curb copyright infringements, training, intelligence sharing and arrest of persons dealing in infringing materials at the airports and environs.