Intellectual Property
Trademarks, copyright, trade secrets and licensing: protection put in writing before the idea is tested, not after it is taken.
The problem clients bring us
A name that built a market and was registered by someone else. A creative work used without licence. A departing employee who left with the process that made the business work. Most intellectual property disputes we see began years earlier, when protection felt like a formality that could wait. Our practice exists to do the unglamorous early work, registration, assignment and confidentiality, so the valuable thing your business makes remains yours.
What we handle
- Trademarks. Clearance searches, registration at the Nigerian Trademarks Registry, renewals, oppositions and enforcement against infringers.
- Copyright. Protection and licensing of creative, literary and software works, and action against unauthorised use.
- Trade secrets and confidentiality. Non-disclosure frameworks, employment IP clauses and exit protocols that keep proprietary knowledge in the business.
- Licensing and assignment. Agreements that move rights deliberately, with royalties, territories and reversion written plainly.
What to expect
- A written audit of what your business owns, what is registered, and what is exposed.
- Registrations pursued and tracked to certificate, with renewal dates diarised.
- Enforcement advice that weighs the cost of action honestly against the value of the right.
- Agreements drafted to be read by business people, not only lawyers.
Frequently asked questions
Is my business name protected because I registered the company at CAC?
No. Company registration reserves a corporate name; it does not create trademark rights. A competitor can still register your brand as a trademark and enforce it against you. The two registrations answer different questions, and a serious brand needs both.
Do I need to register copyright in Nigeria?
Copyright arises automatically when an original work is created. Registration with the Nigerian Copyright Commission is not required, but a voluntary deposit creates a public record that makes proving ownership far easier when a dispute comes.
Tell us what you are facing.
Write briefly and plainly, and we will do the same. Every enquiry receives a considered reply within one business day.