Copyright Act 2022

Artistic works include paintings, drawings, photographs, sculptures, architecture, and crafts. Like literary works, there is no requirement for artistic merit - even simple designs can be protected.

Films, videos, and any recorded moving images are protected. This includes the associated sound track. Home videos, TikToks, and YouTube videos all qualify.

Sound recordings include any audio recording regardless of format - MP3s, podcasts, voice notes, studio recordings. The recording itself is protected separately from the underlying music or words.

Broadcasts include radio, TV, cable, and internet streaming transmissions. Live streams and on-demand services are protected.

Copyright gives you exclusive rights to: reproduce, publish, perform, translate, record, distribute, broadcast, and adapt your work. No one can do these without your permission.

For artistic works, you have exclusive rights to reproduce, publish, include in films, and adapt your work. This covers paintings, photographs, sculptures, and designs.

Even if you sell your copyright, you keep moral rights: the right to be credited as author and to object to changes that harm your reputation. Moral rights cannot be sold, only waived in writing.

You automatically own copyright in works you create. However, if you create something as part of your job, your employer owns it unless you agree otherwise in writing.

If you commission someone to create a photograph, film, portrait, or recording, you own the copyright unless agreed otherwise. The creator keeps moral rights to be credited.

You can sell (assign) or license your copyright. Assignments must be in writing. You can assign partial rights, time-limited rights, or geographic rights. Licensing lets others use your work while you keep ownership.

Copyright lasts for the author's lifetime plus 70 years. For joint works, it is 70 years after the last author dies. For corporate works, it is 70 years from first publication.

Films, photographs, sound recordings, and broadcasts are protected for 50 years from publication or broadcast. This is shorter than the 70 years for written or artistic works.

You infringe copyright by doing any protected act without permission: copying, distributing, performing, broadcasting. Importing, selling, or possessing pirated copies is also infringement.

Even if you did not make the copy yourself, you infringe by selling, renting, distributing, or importing copies you know are pirated. Business possession of pirated goods is infringement.

Fair use is allowed and not infringement. Courts consider: commercial vs. educational purpose, nature of work, how much was used, and market impact. Small quotes for commentary, education, or parody may be fair use.

Educational use, personal study, criticism, reviews, and news reporting are permitted. Teachers can copy for classroom use. Libraries can make preservation copies. Court proceedings can use copies.

You can sue infringers for: damages (compensation), injunction (stop them), account of profits (take their earnings), delivery up (hand over copies). Courts can award extra damages for flagrant infringement.

Commercial piracy is criminal. Making, importing, selling, or distributing pirated works knowingly is punishable by minimum ₦500,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment or both.

Breaking digital locks (DRM) to access protected content is illegal. Making, selling, or possessing devices designed to break copy protection is also a criminal offence.

Online platforms are not liable for user-uploaded content if they respond to takedown notices. Copyright owners can send takedown notices. Platforms must remove infringing content promptly when notified.