The Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called for a comprehensive reform of intellectual property frameworks in Nigeria to make them more modern, inclusive, and respectful of fundamental rights.
This was contained in a statement issued by the MRA’s Programme Officer, Ayomide Eweje, on Sunday to mark the 2026 World Intellectual Property Day.
Eweje described Nigeria’s current intellectual property frameworks as fragmented and outdated, warning that they limit creativity, innovation, and freedom of expression hence, the country urgently needs a more efficient and development-oriented system.
“Nigeria needs an intellectual property protection system that is modern, efficient, rights-respecting, and development-oriented. But the current frameworks discourage creativity and investment, and restrict access, innovation, and freedom of expression,” she said.
She noted that the annual observance, held under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), provides an opportunity for stakeholders to reflect on how intellectual property can promote innovation without undermining public access to knowledge.
The MRA’s programme officer stressed the need to modernise and consolidate existing laws, particularly in response to emerging technologies.
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“Given the fragmented and uneven nature of the current frameworks, it is imperative that they are modernized and consolidated.
“Specifically, clear provisions should be introduced on issues such as digital assets and online use, AI-generated works and ownership, and emerging technologies,” she said.
The organisation also called for stronger public interest safeguards, warning that excessive intellectual property protection could hinder education, journalism, and civic engagement.
“Without such robust exceptions, intellectual property protections can become a barrier to education, investigative journalism, and civic engagement,” Eweje added.
MRA further urged authorities to clarify the relationship between intellectual property laws and the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, cautioning against the misuse of copyright and confidentiality claims to block access to public-interest information.
“Public institutions sometimes invoke copyright or confidentiality to deny legitimate information requests,” she noted.
On digital regulation, the group emphasised the need for balanced rules governing online platforms, including fair notice-and-takedown mechanisms that prevent abuse and censorship.
Eweje also advocated for wider public access to government-funded research and knowledge.
“Government-funded knowledge should ordinarily be widely accessible to the public… the Government should adopt open licensing for publicly funded research, encourage open data policies, and support public repositories for research and educational materials,” she said.
The organisation maintained that intellectual property systems must strike a balance between rewarding creators and protecting the broader public interest, especially in an increasingly digital world.
“Intellectual property protection must not become a tool for restricting legitimate access to information or suppressing public discourse,” Eweje said.
She called on policymakers to ensure that journalists and media organisations are adequately protected when using copyrighted materials in the public interest, particularly in investigative reporting and accountability journalism.
MRA urged the Federal Government to adopt forward-looking and inclusive policies that support innovation, prevent monopolistic practices, and promote wider dissemination of knowledge through open access frameworks.
