Challenges of Protecting Music Intellectual Property in the Digital New Age in Nigeria

Abstract

This article examines the challenges the Music Industry faces in the area of protection of its intellectual property. The protection of a country’s intellectual property should be the priority of all responsible governments. In Nigeria, the Copyright Act 2004 (Cap C28 Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (LFN) used to be the principal legislation for the protection of innovative works. However, on March 17, 2023, the Nigerian President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) signed the Copyright Bill into law. The House of Assembly passed the Bill for an Act to Repeal the Copyright Act 2004 and enact a new Copyright Act in July 2022. The purpose of this paper is to identify the ways the new Act can better protect the rights of musicians and ensure just rewards and recognition for their intellectual efforts. The paper found out that the new Act intends to, among others, expand the rights of authors, raise the sanctions of criminal infringements and address the challenges posed by digital and online use of copyright works. The paper recommends, among others, the creation of strong enforcement mechanisms so that the new Copyright Act 2023 can achieve the purpose for which it was enacted which are to guard intellectual creations against all forms of infringements and to boost the nation’s creative economy in order to make it more globally competitive in the digital new age