Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) not Approved to Operate as CMO – NCC Insists

The Copyright Society of Nigeria, managed by Tony Okorji, has been denied permission to function in Nigeria as a collective management organization, according to the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).

According to a statement made by Vincent Oyefeso, Director of Public Affairs at NCC, COSON’s operating authorization and license have not been renewed since they expired in 2019.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the only CMO with approval to operate as a CMO in music and sound recordings in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act (Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) is the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).

The approval earlier granted to the Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) lapsed with effect from 19th May 2019 and it has not been renewed,” the statement read in parts.

NCC also noted that although COSON applied in 2019 for the renewal of its license, it refused to comply with the terms stipulated by the commission as the regulatory agency, including submission to an independent forensic audit of its accounts.

The commission also stressed that the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria, MCSN, remains the only legal CMO in the Nigerian music sector.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the only CMO with approval to operate as a CMO in music and sound recordings in Nigeria in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act (Cap C28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria) is the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN),” Oyefeso noted.