From Intermediary Liability to Intermediary Responsibility: A Juxtaposition of the EU and Nigerian Liability Regime for Internet Service Providers over Intellectual Property Rights Infringements Online.

Abstract

The huge annual increase in the number of internet users in Nigeria makes the country a fertile ground for investment by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This increase also comes with a higher probability for the violation of intellectual property (IP) rights on the internet. With the current global trend in holding ISPs to a higher standard of responsibility for online IP rights violation as exemplified by the EU, this article presents an attempt to juxtapose the EU and Nigerian regime, while drawing out lessons the latter could learn from the former in its current legislative review process.

Keywords: Internet Law, Copyright, Intellectual Property, Nigeria, Regulation, Liability

JEL Classification: K33, K29, K20, 055