Photocopying and the awareness of copyright in tertiary institutions in Nigeria

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate photocopying practices in tertiary institutions in Nigeria as they relate to the existing copyright law and suggestions to regulate photocopying practices so that the infringement of copyright laws will be minimized.

Design/methodology approach

An empirical approach in which questionnaires, in addition to observation and interview methods, were used to obtain data on the photocopying practices and the awareness of copyright laws by the respondents in five tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

Findings

That the major reasons for photocopying are the cheapness of photocopies compared with the cost of purchasing books and journals as well as the scarcity of books. More than 50 per cent of the respondents photocopied whole books and journals, while over 65 per cent of them are aware of the copyright law.

Research limitations/implications

The study was limited to five tertiary institutions in three zones of Nigeria. It could not cover all the tertiary institutions in Nigeria as that would have been too time‐consuming and expensive.

Practical implications

A useful guide to reasons why people prefer to do photocopies as compared with the purchase of books and the way by which more books can be made available at cheaper cost in order to discourage the propensity for photocopying. It will also create greater awareness and respect for the rule of the copyright law.

Originality/value

It provided suggestions that would create greater awareness of the copyright law in tertiary institutions. It also provided clues to creating book availability in the Nigerian book market and in institutional libraries as a way of discouraging massive photocopying practices which lead to infringement of the copyright law.

Citation

Okiy, R.B. (2005), "Photocopying and the awareness of copyright in tertiary institutions in Nigeria", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 33 No. 1, pp. 49-52. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641610510582144