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NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT COMMISSION CRACKS DOWN ON DJS OVER COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

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  CapitalTimesNews / 2 weeks
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• 1 min read

The Nigerian Copyright Commission has warned Disc Jockeys (DJs) against performing copyrighted music in public without proper authorization or licenses. According to Dr. John Asein, Director-General of the NCC, DJs who fail to comply may face severe penalties, including fines of at least ₦1 million or imprisonment for a minimum of five years, or both. The NCC emphasized that public performance of music by DJs, whether at hotels, event centers, clubs, gardens, or recreational facilities, constitutes both a public performance and communication to the public under the law. To avoid infringement, DJs are advised to obtain licenses and pay royalties to the approved Collective Management Organisation (CMO), which is the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN). The Disc Jockey’s Association of Nigeria (DJAN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MCSN to facilitate royalty payments by DJs nationwide, based on an agreed tariff. The NCC will collaborate with relevant authorities to support DJAN’s initiative and ensure DJs comply with the Copyright Act. The commission will not hesitate to investigate, arrest, and prosecute any DJ found violating the provisions of the Copyright Act. DJs are urged to obtain necessary licenses and pay royalties to avoid legal consequences.