DEFENCES TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT IN NIGERIA

Work eligible for copyright protection after passing the prescribed tests under the copyright Ac’ are literary, musical, artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recording, broadcasts, performance and folklore expression, Various rights are conferred on the authors or creators of these works and there are various acts any of which may constitute an infringement of any of such rights. Any such infringement may attract liablity and, in some cases, criminal sanctions.® Such a violation will be actionable at the instance of the author or owner of the copyright as a breach of statutory duty. It is instructive to note that although the author is recognised as the initial owner of the copyright in the work he has authored, in some cases, ownership of the copyright in the work may reside in a person other than the author Nonetheless, the word “author” as used in this work means the owner of the copyright or performer’s right. In the same vein, any reference to copyright infringement is inclusive of performer’s right infringement