The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) arrested three booksellers in Ibadan on Tuesday for allegedly selling pirated books.

The arrests were made during an enforcement exercise led by the Oyo State coordinator of NCC, Oluropo Oke, representing the director-general, John Asein.

Ms Oke said the exercise was to promote lawful printing and publishing practices across the state in compliance with Section 48(1) of the Copyright Act 2022.

According to her, Section 48 mandates printers and publishers to maintain a register containing the names of authors, quantities printed, dates of delivery, and copies requested.

Ms Oke told journalists that the enforcement covered both bookshops and printing outlets along the Agbowo, Oke-Bola, and Oke-Ado areas of Ibadan.

“Despite several sensitisation exercises, we observed that many operators are still not complying.

“Out of about ten printing outlets inspected, only two complied fully with the law,” she said.

She noted that the three booksellers were arrested for selling pirated copies of popular titles, such as ‘Making it Big’ by Femi Otedola and others from Evans Brothers.

“For instance, a bookseller opposite the University of Ibadan was caught with pirated copies sold at cheaper rates.

“Another, Odusote Bookshop, was found with large quantities of pirated Spectrum books and other titles,” she said.

The state coordinator stated that one of the suspects admitted to sourcing the pirated books from the open market in Lagos.

She, however, warned booksellers and printers to desist from patronising pirates, stressing that ignorance of the law was not an excuse.

“Most of them know the difference between original and pirated books, but they still patronise pirates to cut costs and make higher profits.

“Whoever is caught will face the full wrath of the law,” she said.

Ms Oke reaffirmed NCC’s commitment to sanitising the book industry and ensuring that authors and publishers enjoy due reward for their creative works.

(NAN)