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6 Reasons why every business owner in Nigeria must register their Trademarks

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6 Reasons why every business owner in Nigeria must register their Trademarks

Trademarks are those logos, names, symbols, slogans, mottos, words etc and that a person, business, organizations etc are known for.
Trademarks are a means of identification for entities.
Trademarks have numerous benefits and here are 6 benefits of TRADEMARK REGISTRATION-

1) Trademarks represent the identity of your brand.

2) Trademark is a compulsory requirement for NAFDAC registration in Nigeria

3) It gives you exclusive right to the registered trademark.

4) It gives you a right to sue or seek an injunction against any person or business infringing on your registered trademark.

5) Trademarks are assets and should be protected.

6) Registering your trademarks, helps to protect them against online copycats.

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How to stop anyone who is copying your brand name, slogan, logo after you have registered it as a Trademark.

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There is a difference between a trademark ™️ and a registered trademark ®️

While a TRADEMARK is an identity you are known for but not officially registered by you as provided by law.
A REGISTERED TRADEMARK is an identity you are known by and have officially been registered by you.

These are the steps to take where a person is copying your trademark-
1) Reach out to the copycat (this can be done orally at this point, either via phone calls or text messages, informing them of your right over the intellectual property in question.

2) Where the party refuses to comply based on your earlier notification, engage your Lawyer to write them officially.
The Letter that is meant for this purposes is called the THE LETTER OF CEASE AND DESIST.

 

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3) This letter must be served on the party who is infringing on your intellectual property and a copy acknowledged by him or her.

4) Where the party fails to adhere to the contents of the CEASE AND DESIST LETTER, your Lawyer, should write a second letter of demanding. This letter is to ask the party who has copied your trademark to CEASE AND DESIST else a legal action would be taken against him or her.

5) Where the party in question still refuses to adhere to the demands that have been made in these letters, then you get your lawyer to commence a legal proceeding again them for an infringement on your registered intellectual property.
Your lawyer should feel free to seek both special and general damages to this effect.

How to protect your brand identity and idea as a business owner in Nigeria

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How to protect your intellectual property as a business owner in Nigeria 🇳🇬

Intellectual property simply defined, is the idea, invention, concept which basically is thought out by its owner and sets them apart from their competitors. It defines a brands uniqueness.

The institution in charge of this in Nigeria is The Federal Ministry of Trades and investments.

There are various ways to protect our intellectual properties as businesses and individuals.

  1. Trademark- This is used to secure our symbols, slogans, colors, logos, brand names etc
  2. Copyright- This is used to secure musics, books in all formats (soft copy, hard copy, audio etc)
  3. Patents- This is used to protect original inventions
  4. Registration of Industrial designs- This is perfect for creatives like tailors and manufacturers.

That name, Logo, slogan, design etc are not exclusively yours, until you take steps to protect them as provided by the Law.