Nigerian Copyright Registration

Copyright is a legal right granted to creators of original works of authorship. It protects the expression of an idea, not the idea itself. This includes literary, musical, artistic, and audiovisual works, giving the creator exclusive control over how their work is used, shared, or monetized.

It protects original works fixed in a tangible form, including:

• Musical works (lyrics, melodies, compositions)
• Sound recordings (songs, beats, performances, podcasts)
• Literary works (books, scripts, software, academic texts, poems)
• Artistic works (paintings, photographs, graphic designs, logos)
• Cinematograph films (movies, short films, animations, video content)
• Broadcasts (radio, TV, online streams).

The creator or copyright owner benefits directly from copyright protection. This includes composers, writers, artists, filmmakers, and producers. This protection ensures they receive credit for their work and are fairly compensated for its use.

No, registration is not a condition for copyright protection in Nigeria. Your work is automatically protected the moment it's created and fixed in a tangible form. However, registering with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) provides significant advantages:

• Legal Evidence: The NCC certificate is considered prima facie evidence of ownership in a court of law, making it easier to prove your rights during a dispute.
• Public Record: It creates a public, searchable database that helps with licensing and prevents potential infringements.
• Hassle-Free Process: Our service, 1710Media, handles all the administrative work for you, ensuring a seamless and efficient process.

Copyright in Nigeria is protected by the Copyright Act (Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004). This statute provides the legal framework for copyright protection and enforcement.

You can register your work by providing the necessary details and a copy of the work to us. Our service streamlines this process, managing all the paperwork and submission on your behalf.

You cannot register more than one work on the same application. Each work requires a separate application to ensure clear and distinct legal documentation.

Once all required documents are submitted, the NCC typically issues a formal certificate within 3-14 business days, providing you with official legal proof of ownership quickly.

No, your work does not need to be published to be protected or registered. Copyright protection begins the moment an original work is created and fixed in a tangible medium, regardless of its publication status.

When you register a work with the Commission, it becomes part of the databank of copyright authors and works required to be kept by the commission under the copyright Act, and therefore forms part of a public record.

All the information you provide on your copyright registration is available to the public and will be available on the Internet. However, copies of the work can only be made available to third parties with the authorization of the author or copyright owner.

The duration of protection varies by work type:

• Literary, Musical, and Artistic Works: Protection lasts for the lifetime of the creator plus 70 years.
• Sound Recordings, Films, and Broadcasts: Protection lasts for 50 years from the end of the year the work was first published.

Yes. Through Nigeria's membership in the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, your registered work is protected in over 178 member countries, ensuring your rights are recognized internationally.

As a copyright owner, you have several exclusive rights:

• The right to reproduce the work.
• The right to publish and distribute the work.
• The right to perform or display the work publicly.
• The right to create derivative works based on the original.
• The right to authorize or prohibit others from exercising any of these rights.