Content Creators: Rights under the Nigerian Copyright Act 2022

Abstract

Communication and content creation are the foundation of all social interactions. Our methods of sharing information and conversing has been completely transformed by social networking sites like WhatsApp, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and others. The men and women behind these social media platforms are referred to as ‘content creators’. The evolution of the content creation industry has various implications on the structure of creativity, the organisation and management of individual and national economic systems, the distribution and utilisation of resources to foster sustainable economic expansion, and the shifting landscape of employment trends and opportunities, on education, on infotainment, and so on. But do these creators have any enforceable copyright rights? A cursory look at the Nigerian Copyright Act 2022 appears as though content creators are not recognised; however, an in-depth study of the Act shows otherwise. Content creators have recognizable and enforceable rights under the copyright law. This paper highlights the copyright rights of these authors; the work they produce is an extension of their personalities. Using primary and secondary sources of law, this paper adopts the doctrinal legal research technique. This article concludes that content creators, as authors under copyright, should be accorded their due respect. They have valid and enforceable rights under the law. Take away from content creators their copyright and you would very soon take away from Nigeria her authors.