The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has carried out an inspection/examination tour to some high-profile schools in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, as part of efforts by the Commission to rid learning Institutions of the use and sales of pirated materials.
The Director General of the Commission, Dr John Asein, represented by the Director, Mr Abdul-Salami Babatunde of the Port Harcourt Directorate Office, led the team of Copyright Officers and security officials on the visit to seven high-profile schools, namely: Teko School, Graceland International School, Tantua International Group of Schools, Mater Misericordia Secondary School and others in the state.
The Director said the exercise aimed to ensure that pirated books are not used or sold in any of the schools, both in private and government schools.
Mr Babatunde explained that the responsibility of NCC was to protect the originality of Intellectual property, particularly literary works, thereby calling on proprietors of schools to desist from patronising pirated materials but rather obtain their books from authorised publishers.
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According to him, piracy is a crime and an economic sabotage act as enshrined in the NCC laws, and therefore, anyone caught dealing in pirated materials will be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The team also visited several bookshops and stationery stores at Mile One Market, Education and Mile Three Markets, as purchase invoices were presented by the shop owners for inspection.
NCC Port Harcourt Director insists that the operation is a continuous exercise while advising stakeholders to join the fight against piracy.
