Copyright protection in Nigeria is governed by the Copyright Act 2022, which replaced the earlier 1988 Act and introduced significant updates to the framework for protecting original works, including provisions for digital content, technological protection measures, and the rights of performers.
Under the Copyright Act 2022, original literary, musical, artistic, cinematographic, sound recording, and broadcast works are protected automatically on creation, without registration. The practical challenge for rights holders is not obtaining protection but proving ownership and chain of title, particularly where works are created by employees or contractors, or where ownership is disputed.
We advise creators, publishers, producers, technology companies, and international rights holders on copyright ownership and structuring, licensing and assignment agreements, enforcement against infringement through the Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Federal High Court, and the copyright aspects of commercial transactions including acquisitions and IP due diligence.
For the creative industries, including Nollywood, music, fashion, and digital media, copyright is typically the primary right in play, and we have extensive experience advising clients in those sectors.
Relevant legislation: Copyright Act 2022. Legal advice is tailored to the specific facts of each matter.