Abstract

This paper examined roles of Nigerian academic libraries in creating ethical awareness and fair use legislation of digital intellectual property. It provided the conceptual overview of digital intellectual property and identified the various components of intellectual property. The paper carefully scrutinized the Nigeria Amended Digital Intellectual Property Act 2022 and gave a comprehensive analysis of the ethical awareness of digital intellectual property. The mechanics of fair dealings legislation in Nigeria were explored. The challenges confronting intellectual property in the digital age were identified and the roles of Nigerian academic libraries in providing ethical awareness and fair use legislation of intellectual property postulated. The paper concluded that the provision of ethical awareness and fair use legislation of digital intellectual property would significantly reduce piracy and other copyright infringement of intellectual property. Thus, prompting intellectual property owners to receive due rewards from their intellectual contents. It recommended among others that Nigerian academic libraries should organize advocacy programmes to educate the academic community on ethical awareness and fair use legislation in order to protect the digital intellectual property.