SHOULD THE NIGERIAN COPYRIGHT LAW BE EXPANDED TO ACCOMMODATE NON-TRADITIONAL CONTOURS?

Abstract

Our Nigerian copyright law basically offers protection to pre-defined categories of protectable works; such as literary works, musical works, and artistic works among others. However, given the changes in tide and times, there is need to expand and accommodate the non-traditional contours of copyright; these nontraditional contours often lie outside the copyright system. Even when they fall within, they tend to lurk at the fringes and receive insignificant protection which amounts to nothing. This paper adopts the doctrinal method of research by undertaking a critical look at the copyright law, the conditions of protection by the Nigerian copyright law. It goes further to examine whether or not the nontraditional contours of copyright meet the requirements for protection as required by the Copyright Act; and if they do, then Nigerian copyright law should embrace more flexible ways to identify such protectable works. The paper concludes by advocating that the Nigerian copyright law should be expanded to accommodate these non-conventional types of copyright.