DIGITAL MEDIA AND COPYRIGHT PROTECTION LAWS IN NIGERIA: A COMPLEMENTARY APPROACH

Abstract

Digital media has, by its inherent nature, exacerbated the problem of piracy of Intellectual Property (IP). Studies have shown that the creative industries contribute a high percentage to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of several countries). Governments, especially in the Global West have responded with new and increasingly stringent legislations to protect rights holders and punish violators. It is noteworthy, however, that effective enforcements of these legislations have been largely futile in the face of digital realities. Furthermore, the responses have not satisfied the need for an equitable balance between the interests of rights holders against that of IP users. This paper addresses this problem by proposing an alternative remunerative system for rights holders, as a complementary framework for the existing but largely ineffectual legislations. This approach will foster the formulation of effective templates for an equitable balance between the interest of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) holders and the public within the digital space.