The Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), a leading copyright collective management organization, has reiterated its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of creatives in the country. The organization insists that no beneficiary will be denied their rightful share of the billions of Naira currently accruing from the Private Copy Levy scheme.
Board Meeting Resolutions
During a meeting held on Tuesday, April 21, at the COSON House Boardroom in Ikeja, Lagos, the Board of the CMO adopted a series of far-reaching resolutions aimed at safeguarding the interests of Nigerian creatives. The Board declared its readiness to deploy all lawful measures to protect the rights of beneficiaries of the levy.
Strong Warning Against Misappropriation
In a strongly worded statement, the Board warned against any attempt to misappropriate funds meant for creatives, stressing that such actions will be firmly resisted. “We are determined to resist any effort to turn the Nigerian creative industry into a haven for abuse, where funds belonging to hardworking creatives are shared without transparency, accountability, fairness, or justice,” the Board stated.
Purpose of the Private Copy Levy
According to the Board, the Private Copy Levy is a dedicated support mechanism for creative professionals and should not be treated as discretionary funds. It emphasized that the proceeds are intended to provide relief for thousands of individuals engaged in creative work, as well as to support widows of deceased artistes and practitioners facing health or financial challenges.
Ongoing Legal Matters
As part of its resolutions, the Board directed that the public be reminded of several ongoing legal matters concerning the administration of copyright licensing in Nigeria. These include the continued legal challenge to the approval of the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria (MCSN) by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, as well as litigation relating to the suspension of COSON’s approval.
COSON’s Legal Rights and Representation
The Board further clarified that COSON has formally exercised its legal right to opt out of any licensing or representation arrangement involving works assigned to the society by rights holders. It maintained that COSON remains a major representative body for copyright owners in musical works and sound recordings in Nigeria and is entitled to receive and distribute Private Copy Levy proceeds on behalf of its members.
