Protection of copyright in foreign works in Nigeria:An analysis of the decision in Voice Web International Limited v Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd & Ors

Adewopo, Adebambo and Itanyi, Nkem ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2124-2642 (2021) Protection of copyright in foreign works in Nigeria:An analysis of the decision in Voice Web International Limited v Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd & Ors. GRUR International, 70 (12). pp. 1174-1180. ISSN 2632-8623

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Abstract

The protection for copyright in foreign works in Nigeria has been a contentious and controversial issue for over three decades. In this case analysis, through a trilogy of cases, we trace the judicial trend and jurisprudence on this issue of copyright law. We argue that although Sec. 5 and Sec. 41 of the Nigerian Copyright Act provide two methods by which foreign works can receive protection under the Act, the courts have repeatedly declined to confer such protection. The most recent case on this issue, Voice Web International Limited v Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Ltd & Ors, provided an opportunity for the courts to lay the issue to rest; however, unfortunately, the courts again failed to do so. In this opinion, we critically examine the case and discuss the legislative history conferring protection to foreign works. We conclude that the correct statutory interpretation in determining the protection of foreign works is reciprocity, and this was satisfied in the case under review.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: law ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3308
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Social Sciences > School of Law
Related URLs:
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 07 Oct 2024 11:30
Last Modified: 25 Dec 2024 01:02
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96892
DOI: 10.1093/grurint/ikab120

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