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The head of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NPC), John Asein, stated that Nigeria has suffered significant losses of intellectual property valued in the billions of dollars due to theft over recent years.

Asein, speaking during the launch of a workshop organized by the Art and Culture Writers Association of Nigeria (ACWAN), along with media professionals and stakeholders in the copyright industry on Wednesday in Abuja, mentioned that piracy was discouraging creative talents.

“I’m not sure how many of you have noticed the number of publishing houses that have been around for more than 50 years and have suddenly shut down due to piracy,” he said.

The DG mentioned that the copyright operational environment is changing faster, particularly in today’s digital era compared to a decade ago, when the main issue was the widespread duplication of CDs and DVDs.

“Currently, we face cloud-based violations, algorithm-powered content collection, digital anonymity, and rapidly active online piracy groups. These changes have increased the risks and require fresh regulatory approaches and wider collaborations,” he stated.

Asein pointed out that the workshop aims to enhance the creative environment by serving as a platform for discussion on policy, institutional thinking, and joint efforts within the copyright field. He also mentioned that the first Moses Ekpo Prize for Creative Copyright Reporting will be given in honor of Evelyn Osagie from The Nation.

In his address, Dr Dili Ezughah, the Director General of the National Press Council (NPC), stated that the council has launched a fact-checking app to combat the spread of false information, fake news, and other deceptive content.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).