STATUTORY DEFENCES TO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INNIGERIA: A CONTEXTUAL APPROACH.

Abstract

Exceptions  from  copyright  use  can  be  said  to  be  statutory  defenses  to  direct  infringements  of copyright. Any action done within these exceptions are not infringement. These exceptions are to enable  society  to  benefit  from  the  talent  or  effort  of  its  members  bearing  in  mind  that  this  will help a great deal in educational development of  the nation as well as boost research activities. This discuss analyzed exceptions from copyright use under the Copyright Act and found as a fact that  it  is  a  welcomed  development  for  it  actually  struck  a  balance  between  absolute  protection for  the  author  and  the  interest  of  the  larger  society  thereby  acting  as  statutory defences  to infringements of copyright. It was also discovered that these defences are not commonly raised in  Nigeria  courts  hence  the  use  of  many  English  authorities  especially  the  case  of  Ashdown  v. Telegraph  Group  Ltd.1in  this  discuss.  The  doctrinal  method  of  research  was  adopted  in  this discussion and the following recommendations inter alia were made namely, that our Act should be amended to be explicit on what constitutes fair dealing in line with the three factors laid down in  Ashdown’s case and a distinction drawn between private research and commercially driven research.