By Palma Ileye
Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has commenced discussions with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) on plans to modernise Nigeria’s Copyright Registration System through the adoption of digital technology.
The initiative, which involves the possible deployment of WIPO’s Industrial Property Administration System (IPAS), is aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening database integrity, reducing processing time and enhancing copyright administration in Nigeria.
Director-General of the Commission, Dr. John Asein, in a press release signed by the NCC Director of Public Affairs, Ijeoma Egbunike, disclosed this yesterday, while receiving a WIPO mission team led by Mr. Hisham Fayed, alongside members of the Commission’s management.
Asein said the proposed digital transformation would align the Commission’s registration process with the objectives of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), particularly in promoting efficiency, facilitating business operations and improving revenue generation.
He explained that the initiative would enhance the credibility of copyright registration through streamlined application and resolution processes, while reducing ownership disputes by providing a reliable and verifiable database that could serve as a reference for courts and district registries.
The NCC boss, who commended WIPO for selecting Nigeria as one of the beneficiaries of the initiative, noted that the country was among the first in Africa to introduce a copyright notification system.
He said the Commission was determined to make its registration system more attractive by introducing appropriate incentives, leveraging the regulatory powers conferred on it by the Copyright Act 2022.
According to him, “the biggest incentive is having a seamless and efficient system to reduce the burden on applicants.”
Asein added that the WIPO mission would provide an opportunity for a comprehensive technical and operational assessment of the existing Nigeria Copyright Registration System (NCRS), identify its strengths and limitations, and determine how the Commission could benefit from IPAS and other digital transformation tools.
Speaking on the engagement, Fayed, Head of Global Delivery and Support of Automation Services at WIPO, described the mission as a rapid response to the NCC’s request for technical support.
He explained that WIPO’s Intellectual Property Office Business Solutions Division provides automation services and business solutions to intellectual property offices across its member states.
Fayed described Nigeria as an important partner to WIPO, citing its position as one of Africa’s leading economies and the strength and diversity of its creative industries.
He said WIPO had expanded its automation technology over the past two decades beyond industrial property administration to accommodate copyright services.
According to him, the latest version of IPAS, known as the Generic Registry, was specifically designed to address copyright administration needs, with the flexibility to manage different bibliographic information and media formats, including literature and music.
He added that the system could also support other creative sectors, including traditional cultural expressions.
Fayed identified reducing processing time, improving staff productivity, enhancing service quality and accuracy, and promoting convenience and customer satisfaction as key objectives of the proposed digital transformation.
The four-day WIPO mission, which commenced on November 9, includes institutional engagement, preliminary and detailed technical assessments of the existing system, as well as stakeholder consultations to evaluate user experience and identify service delivery gaps.
The exercise will also assess the relevance of WIPO IPAS to copyright administration in Nigeria and culminate in identifying areas of technical cooperation and developing a practical implementation roadmap.
