New Dawn For Copyright Owners As SAAP Swoops On Alaba Pirates

CHUKA UBAH

History was made recently when the members of the newly formed Strategic Alliance Against Piracy, SAAP, successfully executed a crippling raid on deadly intellectual property thieves otherwise known as “Pirates”.

The epochal event recorded three “Firsts “; the first raid under the new management of Nigerian Copyright Commission led by Director General John Asein, the first raid by SAAP and finally the first raid by stakeholders following their training in Enforcement – Police Operations  sponsored by National Film and Video Censors Board.

Reminiscent of Special Forces operations, the carefully planned raid was executed following intensive surveillance and intelligence gathering operations by agents of SAAP. Thereafter, a combined team of the elite Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Regular Police, NCC Enforcement Operatives supported by members of Association of Movie Content Owners and Distributors, AMCOD (SAAP Member), demobilized the once dreaded Alaba market arguably the biggest pirate haven in the world taking into custody several suspects, the instruments of their evil trade and exhibits running into millions of Naira.

This successful raid marks a turning point in the long and hitherto frustrating fight against all forms of IP theft. Inspired by organizations like Federation Against Copyright Theft FACT, Motion Picture Association MPAA, SAAP is a standing and permanent body set up to defang all forms of intellectual property theft.

This will be achieved using the perfected EEL Strategy; a sophisticated version of the carrot and stick involving Enlightenment, Enforcement and Legislation.

“Never again will it be business as usual for the Dream busters!

We thank NCC, NFVCB and NPF for their support. It is no longer business as usual for Pirates” Comrade Tunji Ojetola said on behalf of SAAP.

SAAP is an initiative by IP Owners to fight piracy on a permanent basis. It is a coalition of content owners and distributors in Nollywood. SAAP hereby invites stakeholders, particularly coalition members to demonstrate solidarity and provide moral support with their physical presence at NCC Zonal Office, Iganmu, as the now defanged suspects (3) are handed over for diligent prosecution.