Mr Tony Okoroji, the Chairman, Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON), says increase in Internet capability for live streaming and download of movies has reduced revenues earned from works of artists.

Okoroji, on Tuesday in Abuja, said that it also prevented producers from monitoring the proliferating use of their works and licencing such use.

He said that establishing a Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for the industry was therefore important in addressing the issues to achieve its sustainable growth.

He said that a CMO would give the industry stronger force to negotiate better terms and protect the interests of the stakeholders.

Okoroji said that the CMO would enable actors, producers and movie makers in the industry receive royalties for use of their works but advised that caution be taken in its establishment.

He said that cooperation and mutual understanding was necessary in establishing a CMO in order to prevent selfish interests and personal gains.

" Collective management cannot solve all the problems of the movie industry, but it can help the industry speak more and more with one voice and create a lot more wealth for the practitioners," he said.

He emphasised the need for practitioners, guilds and associations in the industry to work together and be patient in the evolution of a model that adequately addressed the unique Nigerian situation.

Okoroji said that without a strong CMO in the industry, practitioners might not benefit from the levy scheme which was to take off in 2013.

" One of the significant streams of income expected in the creative industries in Nigeria soon is the private copying levy.

"This was provided for in Section 40 of the Nigerian Copyright Act which implementation is expected to start in 2013," he said. NAN

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