Piracy, counterfeiting and other forms of intellectual property theft according to reports have remained some of the hydra headed challenges facing developing economies like Nigeria.
However, experts at the 2019 Anti-Piracy and Counterfeiting Summit held in Awka believe that piracy and counterfeiting can only end when individuals take up the roles as watchdogs and report to government agencies when they notice such infractions.
David Okpokwasili of the ABS reports that the summit organized by the Anti-Piracy Society of Nigeria, APSON with the theme “Anti-Piracy and Counterfeiting: Emerging Challenges” hopes to bring to the fore, growing concerns over intellectual property theft cutting across literature, music, arts and craft as well as goods and service.
APSON, a non-governmental organization made up of volunteers who want to fight anti-piracy and counterfeiting in the Nigerian market through intensified public sensitization, was created on the 28th of August, 2018 with the summit marking the one year anniversary of the association.
With participants drawn from the Anambra State Ministry of Information and Public Enlightenment, Ministry of Indigenous Art Works, Diaspora Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Anambra Broadcasting Service, ABS, the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, Federal Competitions and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, Security Agencies and other major stakeholders, speakers at the one day summit say the war against piracy cannot be solely won by government effort but by a joint effort from members of the society who show commitment to reduce copyright robbery.
On what more the government could do, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C-Don Adinuba, represented by the Managing Director of Anambra State Newspapers And Printing Corporation, ANPC, Sir Chuka Nnabuife, said like the achievements made in security, there should be a more effective multi-sectoral approach and support for agencies who are engaged in the process of nabbing counterfeiters so they could do their jobs better.
The Director General, APSON, Mr. Frank Uduonu; a legal practitioner, Mr. Arinze Azubuogu, a representative of a major manufacturing firm in Anambra, Mr. David Obot, on their parts highlighted some of the key challenges facing the Nigerian market and investors due to piracy and counterfeiting, as well as stressed the need for implementation of enabling Laws to aid government at all levels to stop paying lip service in combating piracy.
Highlights were demonstrations by the Standard Organization of Nigeria on ways to identify fake products, cutting of anniversary cake by members of APSON and award presentation to the National Light Newspapers and its Managing Director, Sir Chuka Nnabuife for their support to the course of fighting counterfeiting in Anambra State.
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