FG urged to eliminate piracy in music industry

Piracy

Lagos, Aug. 26, 2013 The Chief Executive Officer of Square Records, Jude Okoye, on Monday urged the Federal Government to assist in eliminating piracy in the music industry.

Okoye said this in Lagos that piracy had become a major problem in the music industry.

``All we are asking the government to do is to recognise that the industry would thrive more if it assists the practitioners in fighting piracy,’’ he said.

Okoye said that the Nigerian Copyright Commission should do more in fighting piracy.

``We have laid a good foundation in the music industry. I don’t know what is going to happen next if piracy is not checked,’’ the producer said.

Okoye who manages the duo of Peter and Paul Okoye-- popularly known as `P-Square’-- said that piracy was not a menace an individual could fight.

``I cannot take the law into my hands by walking from one shop to another in Alaba Market, for instance, to stop people from selling pirated CDs.

``It is the role of government to do so,’’ he said.

Okoye noted that government would make a lot of money through tax and would also create employment if it stopped piracy.

He said that if government failed to intervene, musicians would have to sell their albums at give-away prices to marketers.