The Nigeria Copyright Commission in Adamawa has sensitised booksellers to comply with the copyright law and desist from selling pirated books to the public.
Speaking at the sensitisation programme on Saturday in Yola, the acting coordinator in Adamawa, Yusuf Ibrahim, said copyright law plays a crucial role in protecting the creative works of authors, artists, and innovators in Nigeria.
He said the exercise is part of their annual routine duty to ensure people comply, allowing authors and innovators to reap the benefits of their creativity.
“We are here for enlightenment, not for raids, to ensure the book industry’s success and to encourage creators to do their best and be protected against piracy”, he said.
He appreciated the cooperation of the bookshop owners and urged them to continue to be law-abiding for a successful business.
According to him, whoever is found guilty will face the law so that it serves as a lesson to others.
Chijoke Anslem, manager of Tropical Bookshop, Yola, thanked NCC for the measures taken to ensure sanity in the business.
According to him, the majority of them obtain their books directly from authors and publishers, due to respect for the law and a desire for a successful business.
Mr Osita Okafor of Bright Austin Bookshop said the rate of selling pirated books has dropped, unlike in previous years.
According to him, before, the prices of the original copies were high, which led people to opt for pirated copies; however, now that the prices are so high, people prefer to purchase the original copies.

(NAN)