Nigeria Joins Four Key Copyright Treaties

WIPO Director General Francis Gurry received on October 4, 2017 Nigeria’s instruments of accession and ratification of the WIPO Copyright Treaty, the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, the Marrakesh Treaty and the Beijing Treaty from Mr. Audu Ayinla Kadiri, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva and Mr. Afam Ezekude, Director General, Nigerian Copyright Commission.

The deposit took place at a plenary meeting of the WIPO General Assembly, which is meeting in Geneva from October 2-11, 2017

The Beijing Treaty will enter into force 3 months after 30 ratifications or accessions are presented to WIPO. The other treaties will enter into force for Nigeria on January 4, 2018.

Mr. Gurry welcomed the accessions, noting “this represents a major commitment on the part of Nigeria to ensure that its copyright system and therefore its protection for performers and for artists and for composers and authors is at the very highest level internationally.”

Ambassador Kadiri said his country is committed to implementation of the treaties in support of the country’s drive to revitalize its economy. Mr. Ezekude said “Nigeria places a high level of priority on the promotion and protection of intellectual property rights” as the country moves “from an innovation consuming nation to an innovation generating economy.”

Copyright law and treaties

Copyright law aims to balance the interests of those who create content, with the public interest in having the widest possible access to that content. WIPO administers several international treaties in the area of copyright and related rights. Find out more...