CAN YOUR COPYRIGHT BE SOLD?

You created the song.

You wrote the book.

You designed the artwork.

You made the film.

So, can someone else legally acquire the rights to use or control that work?

Yes. But there is a difference between selling a copy of your work and transferring the copyright itself.

Copyright can be assigned or licensed.

An assignment can transfer some or all of the copyright owner’s rights, depending on what the agreement says.

A licence is different. You are essentially giving someone permission to exercise particular rights in your work, under agreed conditions.

And this is where things can get complicated.

Imagine a photographer tells a company, “You can use these photographs for your campaign.”

What exactly does “use” mean?

For how long?

In which countries?

On social media only, or also on billboards and television?

Can the company edit the photographs?

Can it give them to someone else?

How much will the creator be paid?

These are not details to leave to assumptions.

Put the agreement in writing.

A written agreement creates a clear record of what was actually transferred or permitted. It can define the rights involved, the duration, territory, payment and other important conditions.

And remember: selling or handing over the physical copy of a creative work does not automatically mean the copyright has been transferred.

Your creative work may be physical.

Your copyright is a separate right.

Before you sign away rights to something you created, understand exactly what you are giving, what you are keeping and what the other person is allowed to do.

Because sometimes, the most expensive sentence in a creative business is:

“I thought that was what we agreed.”

If you discover websites, IPTV services, Telegram channels, WhatsApp groups, social media accounts, mobile apps, or any online platform distributing copyrighted works without authorization, report them to the Special Taskforce Against Online Piracy (S.T.O.P).

📧 Email: STOP@copyright.gov.ng

📱 S.T.O.P Hotline (WhatsApp Only): 0813-7459-027

📝 Report Online Piracy: https://bit.ly/STOPpiracyreport 


🌐 S.T.O.P Information Centre: https://linktr.ee/STOPPIRACY

Protect Creativity. Protect Rights. Protect Revenue.

#STOPPiracy #Copyright