The Prospects/Shortcomings of the Nigerian Copyright Act 2022 With Regards to Criminal Liability for Copyright Infringement (Published)
The legal framework around criminal liability for copyright infringement is examined in this article in light of the latest Copyright Act of 2022. The dynamic nature of the digital landscape has presented novel obstacles to the safeguarding of intellectual property, leading lawmakers to refine and expand the existing legal structure. This article explores the implication, enforcement strategies, and possible repercussions for people or organizations involved in the unauthorized use, duplication, or distribution of works protected by copyright. It does this by examining the particular provisions of the Copyright Act of 2022 that regulate criminal liability for copyright infringement. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the criminal aspects of copyright infringement. To achieve this, the use of doctrinal approach, also known as library based qualitative method was used. This approach involves historical, comparative, and descriptive research analysis, as well as a thorough examination of pertinent sections of the Copyright Act, judicial precedents, and scholarly discourse. It furthermore encompasses emerging domains such as technological evasion, digital piracy, and the interplay between copyright law and other legal disciplines. The essay seeks to further the discourse on intellectual property rights by examining the fairness and effectiveness of criminal sanctions as deterrents for copyright infringement. This article seeks to inform policymakers, legal practitioners, and the general populace on the evolving framework of copyright protection in the digital era by examining the legal foundations of criminal culpability or liability
Keywords: Copyright Infringement, Nigerian copyright act 2022, Prospects, criminal liability, shortcomings