By Charles Pemu 
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has called on hospitality businesses, such as hotels and restaurants, to obtain performance licenses for using copyrighted works like music and films. This call was made by the Director-General of the NCC, Dr. John Asein, at a colloquium in Abuja commemorating the 2025 African Copyright and Collective Management Day. Asein emphasized that securing these licenses is a legal requirement under the Copyright Act, 2022, and a moral obligation to ensure creators are fairly compensated for the commercial use of their work.
Asein clarified that a regular subscription license from a service provider, like a cable station, does not automatically grant a business the right to publicly perform content in a commercial space. This distinction is crucial for hotels and similar establishments, which must obtain separate licenses for such uses. The NCC has issued a copyright advisory on this matter and is urging services like Multichoice to make the limitations of their licenses clear to commercial subscribers.
The NCC boss also highlighted the new Collective Management Regulations 2025, which are designed to bring accountability and transparency to the collective management system. These regulations aim to ensure that copyright owners receive fair compensation and that users have a clear and trustworthy way to obtain the necessary rights. The new framework also includes a Dispute Resolution Panel to resolve conflicts efficiently.
Stakeholders Stress Need for Enforcement
The event also featured calls for stronger enforcement of copyright laws. Chief Obi Asike, Director-General of the National Council for Arts and Culture, stated that while Nigeria has the necessary laws, the lack of implementation hinders the creative industry’s growth. Similarly, Mr. Mahmood Ali-Balogun, Chairman of the Audio-Visual Rights Society, and Pupa Oritz Wiliki, Chairman of the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN), appealed to the NCC for increased enforcement, noting that the livelihoods of creative professionals depend on fair compensation. They stressed that their organizations are legitimate bodies that help artists collect royalties they cannot pursue individually.