How to Register Copyright in Nigeria will be discussed in this article. This is to guide against the theft of intellectual property.

How to get a Copyright in Nigeria

Read Also: How to Register a New Car in Nigeria

Wow! Congratulations on your successful production of original creative output. It is now time to protect that creative work before another person claims ownership of it.

This is why you need to register for copyright. A copyright is an exclusive right to the publication, copying, and distribution of intellectual property or work of authorship. In Nigeria, copyright registration is done by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).

Items that can be copyrighted include music, literary work, painting, photograph, films, videos, etc. the protection is however limited to a period of time. Following is a detailed procedure for getting a copyright for your music, book, or any other original work of yours.

Read Also: Importance of BVN in Nigeria

How to Register Copyright in Nigeria

Guides on How to Register Copyright in Nigeria:

For manual registration:

1. Walk into an NCC office nearest to you.
2. Obtain a form for the registration of copyright for your work.
3. Fill and submit the form to the office with two copies of your intellectual property.
4. Pay the prescribed fee and bring back evidence of payment.
5. After due consideration and proof of your ownership of the work, you will be granted a copyright for it.

Read Also: How to Start E-Commerce Business in Nigeria

To do copyright registration online, take the following steps:

1. Visit the website www.copyright.gov.ng or use the direct registration portal www.eregistration.copyright.gov.ng
2. Click on the “Copyright Registration” bar.
3. Click on the “Create an Account” bar.
4. In the dialogue box that appears, you will need to input a username as well as a password. Take note of your password as you will need them the other times you need to log in.
5. Fill in the details on the form brought up. Upload a valid email address.
6. Follow the link sent to your email to activate your account.
7. Go to the dashboard and select “Register a New Work”.
8. Select the category of work you want to register.
9. Fill out the form for the particular category and complete all 11 sections. Save it and click.
10. Proceed to make payment and submit proof of payment. The fee for copyright registration is N10,000 or $60. The fee for the issuance of a certified true copy is N5000 or $30. To make some changes or corrections, you are to pay N5000 or $30.
11. For paperwork of 50 pages or less, the fee is N5000 or $30; 51-100 N7500 or $40; N101 – N200 N10,000- $60; 201 and above N15,000 – $90.
12. These fees can, however, be reviewed by the commission when it deems it fit to do so. Registration is allowed for works or authors not based in Nigeria.
13. The items asterisked must be duly filled. There are quick tips on how to fill out the form.
14. Your submitted application will acquire a pending status.
15. If there is an error in the details you provided, or if there is any form of irregularity, your application will acquire a “Queried” status. Respond to it accordingly and effect the necessary corrections.
16. If your application is being worked upon, it will display a “Processing” status. Wait for the outcome.
17. By the time your application has been approved, a registration number will be issued to you. Your status will now read “Approved”. Proceed to view or print the preview copy of the certificate.
18. Wait for a call to pick up the originally signed hard copy.

Read Also: How to Start Your Music Career in Nigeria