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ABSTRACT
This research assesses the impact of online copyright infringement in Nigeria. The internet poses a fundamental challenge to copyright protection in Nigeria. The internet’s explosive growth demonstrates that the current legal regime is ill equipped to handle the corresponding explosion of copyright infringement. The study was set out to find out the scope of copyright infringement in the Nigerian cyberspace; and the various technological-based methods available for protecting copyright infringement on the internet. The research found that Copyright Act of 2004 governs and protects copyrights in Nigeria. It provides for literary works, musical works, artistic works, cinematographic films, sound recordings and broadcasts. Online copyright infringement occurs as illegal streaming of content, peer-to-peer sharing, cyberlocking and linkage of websites. The study found that the Copyrights Act has not been able to adequately address the issue of online infringement because it is becoming obsolete as Nigeria’s digital footprints have deepened. The study also discovered that works on the internet can be protected by encryption, digital stamping, access control management, and digital time stamping. It was shown that any form of these technological protection will prevent authorized use, however, no form of technological protection will stop all unauthorized use. The study therefore recommends an overhaul of the legal protection from copyright infringement in Nigeria, more awareness on the menace, increased penalties for offenders, adequate online monitoring of copyrighted works, web policing, and adequate training for staff of the Nigerian Copyright Commission in curbing online copyright infringement in Nigeria.
