Copyright registration, assignment and licensing structures that let creators retain long-term value in their catalogue.
Nigeria's creative sector has matured commercially far faster than the contracts underpinning it. Many artists still assign rights in perpetuity for an advance that reflects none of the catalogue's later value.
Licence rather than assign where you can
A term licence with defined territories and media keeps optionality with the creator, and it makes future financing conversations far simpler.
Where an assignment is unavoidable, reversion rights and audit rights should be non-negotiable.
Register early
Registration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission is not constitutive of the right, but it provides evidence that materially shortens any dispute.
The same discipline applies to trademarks covering artist names, imprints and merchandise lines.