COPYRIGHT

Respecting the work
of every creator.

How Akewe protects intellectual property under the Nigerian Copyright Act 2022 — reporting infringement, filing a counter-notification, the copyright strike system, and using music responsibly.

Effective 18 May 2026 Nigerian Copyright Act 2022

1.1 Our commitment to intellectual property

Akewe is a Nigerian-first video platform operated by AKEWE MEDIA NIGERIA LIMITED (RC-1681767) at akewe.com. We are built on the work of creators, and we take the protection of intellectual property seriously.

This Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy explains how rights holders can report infringing content, how creators can respond when their content is removed, and how Akewe handles repeat infringement. It forms part of, and should be read alongside, our Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.

By uploading, streaming or otherwise making content available on Akewe, you confirm that you own the content or hold all rights, licences and permissions necessary to share it. If you cannot make that confirmation, do not upload the content.

1.3 What this policy covers

This policy addresses two main categories of intellectual property:

  • Copyright — original works such as videos, films, music, sound recordings, scripts, images, graphics and broadcasts. Copyright protects how an idea is expressed, not the idea itself.
  • Trademarks — brand names, logos, slogans and other signs that identify the source of goods or services. Trademark concerns are covered in the final tab of this policy.

Other rights — including a creator's right to control the use of their name, image and likeness, and confidential or private information — are addressed in our Privacy Policy and Community Guidelines.

1.4 What counts as infringement

Copyright infringement happens when protected content is used in a way that is reserved to the rights holder — for example, reproducing, distributing, publicly performing or communicating a work to the public — without the rights holder's permission and without a legal exception applying. On Akewe, this commonly includes:

  • Re-uploading another creator's video, film or programme as your own.
  • Using copyrighted music, sound recordings or background tracks without a licence.
  • Including clips, images or footage owned by someone else without permission.
  • Streaming live events, matches or broadcasts you do not have the right to transmit.

Not every use of someone else's work is infringement. The Copyright Act 2022 recognises limited exceptions — such as certain uses for criticism, review, news reporting, research or education — but these exceptions are narrow and fact-specific. If you are unsure whether your use is permitted, obtain a licence or do not upload the content.

1.5 How the takedown process works

Akewe runs a structured notice-and-action process so that rights holders and creators are treated fairly:

  1. 1
    A complaint is filed. A rights holder submits a valid infringement complaint through our support ticket system.
  2. 2
    We review and act. If the complaint is valid, we remove or restrict access to the content and notify the uploading creator.
  3. 3
    The creator may respond. A creator who believes the removal was a mistake or misidentification may file a counter-notification.
  4. 4
    Content may be reinstated. If a counter-notification is valid and the original complainant does not pursue the matter, the content may be restored.
  5. 5
    Repeat infringers face penalties. Channels that accumulate copyright strikes may be suspended or terminated.

Each of these steps is explained in detail in the tabs above. To begin any of them, use our support ticket system.