FAQs
FAQs : PATENTS
A. Yes. Nigeria is a member of the International Convention and the PCT.
Yes. a national application is permissible in Nigeria.
Power of Attorney – no legislation or notarisation necessary;
Assignment of Invention – no legalisation or notarisation necessary;
Specification, claims, drawings, and abstract in English; and
Copy of the PCT international publication issued by the PCT Bureau.
Filing the prescribed documents.
Thereafter, the Registrar issues an Acknowledgement of Filing
The Registrar carries out a formality examination of the application. No substantive examination is conducted.
If the Registrar finds that the application meets the requirements set out in the Act then Letters Patent (Patent Certificate) will be issued.
Power of Attorney – no legislation or notarisation necessary;
Assignment of Invention – no legalisation or notarisation necessary;
Specification, claims, drawings, and abstract in English; and
Certified copy of priority application and, if necessary, a certified translation into English thereof.
A. Yes. A national phase application must be filed within 30 months For a PCT application, the second annuity becomes due on the first anniversary of the international filing date. You are expected to pay each annuity on the anniversary of the PCT filing date even whilst the application is pending.
For a PCT application, the second annuity becomes due on the first anniversary of the international filing date. You are expected to pay each annuity on the anniversary of the PCT filing date even whilst the application is pending.
A. A patent is valid for a period of 20 years subject to the payment of the annuities (renewal fees).
No. There is no provision of the extension of a Patent beyond the 20 year term.
We offer very competitive pricing. Please contact us directly to obtain our full schedule of fees.
FAQs : TRADE MARKS
Carry out a preliminary search (This is not mandatory);
File application specifying the classes you which to register in ;
Registry issues an Acknowledgment of filing;
Registry issues Letter of Acceptance if the mark is deemed registrable.;
The trademark is published in the trademark journal for 60 days;
If there is no opposition during the 60 day period, the trademark certificate will be applied for and issued upon the payment of the requisite Sealing fees.
Representation of the trademark (logos must be in jpeg format);
Applicant’s details;
A simply signed Power of Attorney (No Notarisation or Legalisation required);
Full range of goods or services covered by the trademark;
A Yes. The Trade Marks registry will carry out a formal and substantive examination of your application to determine whether the mark as filed is registrable. If the Registrar determines that the mark is not registrable he will issue a Refusal Letter. You are allowed to respond to the Refusal and submit a response to overturn the decision.
A Yes. Even if the Registrar accepts your trademark application for publication third parties can object to the registration of the mark once it’s been officially published in the Trade Mark Journal. Any objection must be made within 60 days of the publication.
A If there is an objection to the trademark then you are required to file a counter statement within one month of receiving the Notice of opposition.
A No. If you wish to register your mark in more than one class of goods and/or services then you will have to file applications in each of the class that you wish to obtain trademark protection.
A Yes. Nigeria follows the Nice Classification.
A Indefinitely. As long as the trademark owner wishes to keep the mark and renews it. In the first instance, the mark will be renewed for a period of 7 years and then it will be renewed for further periods of 14 years.
A Yes. You can assign your trademark with or without goodwill. The assignment will be recorded at the Trade Marks registry and an Assignment certificate issued.
We offer very competitive pricing. Please contact us directly to obtain our full schedule of fees.