VZCZCXRO0856
PP RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHUJA #0943 1521427
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 011427Z JUN 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY ABUJA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6146
INFO RUEHOS/AMCONSUL LAGOS PRIORITY 1404
RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS ABUJA 000943 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT PASS TO USTR-AGAMA 
TREASURY FOR PETERS AND IERONIMO 
DOC FOR 3317/ITA/OA/KBURRESS AND 
3130/USFC/OIO/ANESA/DHARRIS 
DOJ FOR KOUAME 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIPR ETRD PGOV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY AGREE TO FIGHT PIRACY 
 
¶1. (U) Summary.  At May 5-6 conference on the enforcement of 
copyrights, the Government of Nigeria (GON) was called upon, by 
stakeholders participating at the conference, to provide sufficient 
funding for Intellectual Property (IP) agencies, in addition to 
amending IP laws to strengthen enforcement and accommodate recent 
global developments in the IP arena.  Participants highlighted the 
need for inter-agency and regional cooperation, and continuous 
public awareness on IP protection.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  Marking the twentieth anniversary of the Nigerian Copyright 
Commission (NCC), a conference on the enforcement of copyright, 
co-sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) 
and the NCC, was held on May 5-6.  The conference's theme was 
"Building Strategies for Effective Protection and Enforcement in the 
Twenty First Century".  It highlighted the importance of 
inter-agency collaboration in IP administration and protection and 
effect the technological advancement has on copyright protection. 
 
¶3.  Opening remarks at the event were provided by the Deputy Chief 
of Mission, Minister for Labor and Productivity, the Information and 
Communications Minister and others.  Participants came from both the 
private and public sectors, to include officials from the Nigerian 
Custom Service, Nigeria Police, National Film and Video Censors 
Board (NFVCB), and Association of Movie Producers (AMP) and other 
agencies and organizations. 
 
Enlightenment 
------------- 
 
¶4.  The threat of piracy was highlighted by all presenters.  While 
participants were willing to blame pirates, it was noted that most 
people, including "enlightened" Nigerians, buy pirated works.  One 
way to run pirates out of business is by refusing to buy their 
products. 
 
¶5.  Participants agreed to joint GON and industry stakeholders 
awareness campaigns on the ills of piracy and the effects it has on 
the economic development to be intensified across the country. 
Local film industry representatives called for training from the IP 
agencies on protecting their rights in regards to their works. 
Workshops on how to draft and implement contracts with distributors 
are planned for the future.  The NFVCB is in the process of 
developing a new film distribution and exhibition framework to 
combat piracy in the film industry. 
 
Empowerment and Enforcement 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  The need to provide adequate funding to relevant IP agencies was 
underscored.  Budgetary allocations are insufficient and late. 
Adequate funds are needed to conduct enforcement operations and pay 
for media campaigns.  Participants agreed that since budget problems 
are here to stay inter-agency collaboration should be strengthened 
in order to leverage resources available to each IP agency and 
reduce the burden each agency carries when operating solely. 
 
¶7.  Industry participants and GON IP officials highlighted the 
importance of continuous collaboration in enforcing IP rights. 
Enforcement against high profile targets would send a signal to 
pirates that piracy is taken seriously.  Current laws should be 
amended to strengthen enforcement and accommodate recent global 
developments in IP. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶8.  The turnout of GON officials at the conference was commendable. 
It shows that political support and awareness for combating piracy 
is growing.  Industry stakeholders and GON IP officials engaged 
frankly and agreed on further collaboration to combat piracy.  End 
comment. 
 
¶9.  This report was coordinated with Consulate Lagos. 
 
SANDERS