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This edition covers news on: • NCC Introduces Two New IP-Related Instruments -Collective Management Regulations, 2025 - The Proceeds of Crime (Designation of Nigerian Copyright Commission as a Relevant Organisation) Order, 2025. • Gambia Intellectual Property Office Modernises Trademark Registration System. • Plans Underway for Possible Restructuring of Nigeria’s Trademark Registry. • Egypt Establishes the Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA)
NIGERIA
NCC Introduces Two New IP-Related Instruments
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has introduced two significant instruments aimed at strengthening intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement in Nigeria:
The Collective Management Regulations, 2025 (“Regulations”)
The Proceeds of Crime (Designation of Nigerian Copyright Commission as a Relevant Organisation) Order, 2025 (“Order”)
These instruments represent a major advancement in Nigeria’s copyright and IP regime, promoting better rights management and enhancing the fight against IP-related crimes.
Collective Management Regulations, 2025
The Collective Management Regulations, 2025 provide a comprehensive framework for the approval, membership, regulation and supervision of Collective Management Organizations (CMOs) in Nigeria.
Key highlights include:
Consent: The right owner is required to give written consent for each right and also state the type of work he authorizes the CMO to manage.
Transparency and Accountability: CMOs must adopt transparent practices, including regular reporting of collections and distributions, ensuring fair treatment of rights holders.
Rights Holders' Interests: Stronger protections ensure that rights holders receive their royalties promptly and equitably.
It mandates the CMO to maintain separate account for royalties different any other income of the CMO.
Dispute Resolution Mechanisms: The Regulations establish clearer procedures for resolving disputes between CMOs and stakeholders.
The Regulations aim to rebuild trust in collective management, promote efficiency, and encourage broader participation by creators and rights holders in Nigeria’s copyright system.
A detailed review of the Regulations will follow shortly.
The Proceeds of Crime (Designation of Nigerian Copyright Commission as a Relevant Organisation) Order, 2025
By the Proceeds of Crime (Designation of Nigerian Copyright Commission as a Relevant Organisation) Order, 2025, the Nigerian Copyright Commission has now been officially designated as a “relevant organization” under the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Act 2022. This designation empowers the NCC to:
Identify, trace, seize, and recover proceeds derived from copyright infringements and other IP-related crimes.
Work more closely with law enforcement and financial institutions to combat piracy, counterfeiting, and illicit commercialization of creative works.
Protect the economic interests of rights holders by ensuring that unlawfully obtained profits are confiscated and returned through lawful processes.
This development further strengthens Nigeria’s ability to deter IP crimes and reinforces that copyright infringement is a serious offence, attracting not only civil liability but also significant financial and criminal consequences.
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Important Notice: The information contained in this Article is intended for general information purposes only and does not create a lawyer-client relationship. It is not intended as legal advice from Jackson, Etti, & Edu (JEE) or the individual author(s), nor intended as a substitute for legal advice on any specific subject matter. Detailed legal counsel should be sought prior to undertaking any legal matter. The information contained in this Article is current to the last update and may change. Last Update: October 1, 2024.
