The Enforcement of Copyright Laws in Literary, Musical, Dramatic Works and Computer Programmes; A Comparative Approach of Nigeria and Uganda

AKINWUMIJOHN AYOBAMI 72 PAGES (21143 WORDS) Law Project

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION .................. '. ................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL ............................................................................................................................ ii

DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ....................................................................................................... iv

LIST OF ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................ V

LIST OF STATUTES ............................................................................................................. vii

TABLE OF CASES .............................................................................................................. viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................ ix

ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................................... xiii

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................... 1

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1

1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... !

1.1 Background to the Study ............................................................................................... 4

1.2 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 5

1.3 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 5

1.4 Objectives of the Research ............................................................................................ 6

1.4.1 Main Objective ........................................................................................................... 6

1.4.2 Specific Objectives ..................................................................................................... 6

1.5 Research Hypothesis .................................................................................... : ................ 6

1.6 Scope of the Study ......................................................................................................... 6

1.7 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 7

1.8 Research Methodology .................................................................................................. 7

1.9 Literature Review .......................................................................................................... 8

1.10 Organisation Layout .................................................................................................. 14

ix

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................ 15

CONCEPTUAL CLARIFICATION ................................................................................. 15

2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 15

2.2 Definition ofCopyright ................................................................................ 1

.............. 15

2.3 Historical Background to Copyright in Nigeria and Uganda ...................................... 17

2.3.1 Pre-colonial Era ........................................................................................................ 18

2.3.2 Colonial Era .............................................................................................................. 19

2.3.3 Post Colonial Era ...................................................................................................... 19

2.4 Subject matter .............................................................................................................. 20

2.4.1 Works eligible for protection ................................................................................... 20

2.4.2 Works not eligible for protection ............................................................................. 23

2.5 Causes of violation of copyright laws ......................................................................... 24

2.6 Duration of copyright in Nigeria and Uganda ............................................................. 25

2.7 Rights enshrined in the copyright ............................................................................... 26

2.7.1 Economic Rights ...................................................................................................... 26

2.7.2 Moral Rights ............................................................................................................. 26

2.7.3 Neighbouring Right~ ... : ............................................................................................ 27

2.7.4 Negative Rights ........................................................................................................ 27

2.7.5 Multiple Rights ......................................................................................................... 27

2.8 Doctrine of exhaustion ................................................................................................ 28

CHAPTER THREE ............................................................................................................ 29

THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF COPYRIGHT IN NIGERIA AND

UGANDA. ......................................................................................................................... 29

3.1 Institutional Framework for Copyright in Nigeria ...................................................... 29

3.1.1 The Nigeria Police Force .......................................................................................... 29

X

3.1.2 The Role of the Federa\ High Court ......................................................................... 30

3.1.3 Nigerian Copyright Conunission ............................................................................. 32

3.2 Institutional Framework of Copyright in Uganda ....................................................... 32

3.2.1 The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) ................................................ 32

3.2.2 Uganda Perfom1ing Rights Society .......................................................................... 34

3.2.3 The Uganda Police Defense Forces (UPDF) ............................................................ 35

3.3 Challenges encounter by the institutions ..................................................................... 35

a) Unawareness of Police about the issues of Copyright Laws ......................................... 36

b) Teclmological hnprovement ......................................................................................... 36

c) Unawareness of the Public about the issues of Copyright Laws .................................. 36

d) Financial Inadequacy .................................................................................................... 37

e) Bribery and Corruption ................................................................................................. 37

3 .5 Comparison copyright laws in literary, musical, dramatic works in Nigeria and Uganda

........................................................................................................................................... 37

3.5.1 Similarities ............................................................................................................... 38

3.5.2 Differences ............................................................................................................... 39

CHAPTER FOUR .............................................................................................................. 40

4.0 DATAANALYSIS ..................................................................................................... 40 I

4.1 GENERAL LEGAL FRAMEWORKS OF COPYRIGHTS IN NATIONAL AND

INTERNATIONAL .......................................................................................................... 40

4.2 Legal Frameworks of Copyrights in Nigetia and Uganda .......................................... 40

4.2.1 The 1999 Constitution of the Federation of Nigeria (as amended) and The 1995

Constitution of the Republic of Uganda (as amended) .................................................... .40

4.2.2 Copyright Act, Cap C28 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and The Copyright

and Neighboring Act of2006 (Laws ofUganda) ............................................................. .42

xi

4.2.3 Standard Organization of Nigeria Act, Cap S9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,

LFN 2004 and The Uganda Registration of Service Bureau Act Cap. 210 (Laws of Uganda)

••••••••••••·••·••••••••• ................................................................................................... 1 .••••••••••••• 43

4.2.4 The Police Act, Cap C19 Laws of the Federation, 2004 and The Police Act Cap. 303

(amendment Act of2006) (Laws ofUganda) ................................................................... 43

4.3 Other existing International Legal frameworks connected to Copyright.. .................. 44

4.3.1 The Berne convention (1886) ................................................................................... 44

4.3 .2 Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Prope11y Rights (TRIPs) .............................. 46

4.3.3 World Intellectual Prope11y Organisation Copyright Treaty, 1996 (WIPO) ...... 46

CHAPTER FIVE ................................................................................................................ 4 7

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NIGERIA AND

UGANDA. ......................................................................................................................... 47

5.1 SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ 47

5.2 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 48

5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NIGERIA AND UGANDA ...................................... 48

REFERENCES ...................... , ............................................................................................ 51

Internet Sources .................................................................................................................. 54

Appendix A .......................................................................................................................... 56

QUESTIONNAIRE GUIDE ............................................................................................. 56

ABSTRACT The Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) over the years have been arguably stated that it is not a property, which can be protected under the law. The subject of intellectual property rights, therefore, is so central and dynamic that it is the concern of many chastisements oflaw which in patents, copyright, trademarks, industrial designs, e.t.c. Copyrights which is the topic of discussion, has problems with political and socioeconomic contexts, for example, piracy, counterfeits, and imitation. This is because of advancement in technology such as the internet, digitalization through Compact Discs (CDs), industrial photocopiers, and scanners. There are various numeric legal frameworks enacted nationally, regionally and internationally in salting the infringements of copyrights specifically in Nigeria and Uganda. The research has shown that there are some lacunas in the enforcement of copyrights laws in literary, musical, dramatic works and computer programmes as well as the responsibilities of the institutional frameworks responsible for the implementation of copyrights. It should be noted that the need for the protection of copyrights cannot be over-emphasized. This dissertation examined the conceptual clarifications of copyright, the legal and institutional frameworks for the protection of copyrights in Nigeria and Uganda, with the view to ascertaining their efficacy or otherwise for the protection of copyrights. The research found that there are some insufficiencies in enforcement mechanism of institutional frameworks governing copyright protection. In addition, it recommended that by improving the legal regime, enforcing the existing laws and increasing public awareness, the government in collaboration with relevant public and private sectors can make significant contributions in realizing its goal of protecting both copyrights in Nigeria and Uganda.