Intellectual Property, Information Technology & E-Commerce

Our Intellectual Property unit is involved in the maintenance, protection and enforcement of our clients’ industrial and intellectual property rights either in isolation or as an offshoot of related transactional matters. Some of these areas include: Entertainment and Media, Pharmaceutical and Construction, Art, Sports, Trademarks, Copyright, Patents and Trade Secrets as well as licensing and ancillary international trade issues.

We are particularly skilled in all maintenance work at the Nigerian Trade Marks and Patents Registry involving the application for, publication, registration and renewals of trademarks. We also undertake the assignment of such marks as well as recordals of Registered User Agreements to third parties or subsidiaries. Our expertise also extends to the filing, prosecution or defence of our clients’ applications in opposition proceedings before the Registrar of Trademarks.

In the area of enforcement, the firm’s Intellectual Property unit in tandem with the Dispute Resolution Department is versed in the prosecution and or defence of Copyright, Trademarks, Trade Secrets and Patent infringement actions at various levels. We can obtain ex-parte, interlocutory, Anton Pillar or Class injunctions depending on the exigencies of an action as well as instigate anti-counterfeiting proceedings under the Nigerian Merchandise Marks Act.

The firm handles applications for the issuance of product licenses before the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and can advise on transfer of technology requirements within the Nigerian investment climate, through the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP).

The firm’s E-Commerce practice is budding apace with the industry in Nigeria. As we continue to build capacity in the area, our lawyers assist clients to understand the impact of E-Commerce and related issues on their businesses and work with them to develop legal strategies they need to address this impact effectively. The firm provides strategic advice to its web-based business clients to understand the risks and take advantage of the steadily increasing number of state and federal laws, rules and regulations governing consumer-oriented retail and business-to-business electronic commerce.

As one of Nigeria’s emerging leading business law practices, our practice is well positioned to advise internet-based companies on matters relating to Intellectual Property and new technologies, Intellectual Property content regulation and website management, data protection, encryption and privacy, electronic contracting, domain names, jurisdictional issues, online marketing and the valuation of related Intellectual Property portfolios as well as the licensing of such rights.