July 25, 2014 – Reputable filmmaker, Mr. Mahmoud Ali-Balogun has called on filmmakers to cultivate the habit of attending events that would benefit them and their profession.
“Pray for us to attend things like this. We have apathy to attend things that will benefit us”, he said at the event put together by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
The filmmaker spoke at the public launch of the Nigerian e-Copyright Registration System (NeCRS) in Lagos. He said the NeCRS is would benefit those involved in creative activities. He explained that in 2007 when he produced Tango With Me, he tried without success to register but was forced to go to Library of Congress in the United States.
He added that he is glad that the NeCRS offers something more beneficial than what the Library of Congress offers.
While launching the scheme, Attorney General of the Federation, Barrister Mohammed Bello Adoke said that the commission has made progress in the last four years, adding that the launch of the scheme is in line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant, Mrs. Veronica Mbu, the minister said government has concluded plans to merge the NCC with another agency and streamline management for efficiency and called for cooperation among stakeholders when the merger takes off.
The NeCRS is scheme that allows right owners to notify the NCC of their works to protect them from litigation in the future. The scheme will be available to members of the public from August 1, 2014.
