Abstract

This paper investigates the extent to which copyright law protects musical works in Nigeria’s online environment, with a specific focus on YouTube. Utilising a doctrinal qualitative research method, it draws data from both primary and secondary legal sources. The research pinpoints weaknesses in the Nigerian Copyright Act of 2022 concerning digital infringement of musical works. A major finding is that the Act closely mirrors the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) without adequately considering the distinctive features of Nigeria’s music industry and digital copyright challenges. The study argues for amendments to the Act’s provisions on online content to better reflect the realities of the digital landscape and the local music sector, calling for targeted legal reforms.