Nigerian Law Intellectual Property Watch

Copyright

The Nigerian Music Industry: Consequences of COSON and MCSN Co-Existence

After years of court battle between Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in April 2017 directed NCC to approve MCSN as a [...]
Anti-Counterfeiting

Absence of Interpreter Stalls Trial of Chinese Importers of Fake Tyres

The trial of two Chinese importers accused of importing sub-standard tyres into Nigeria which was originally scheduled for March 8, has once again been stalled, Monday, at the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court [...]
Intellectual Property Nigeria

New Trademarks Journal Published in Nigeria

The Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry in Nigeria has published a new Trademarks Journal dated May 2, 2017. The Journal titled Trademarks Journal Vol. 1, No. 1., covers trademark applications filed manually at the Registry [...]
Patents

Singapore’s IP Office Launches Innovation Fund

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) recently launched a S$1 billion ($716.6 million) innovation fund with private equity firm Makara Capital. Called the Makara Innovation Fund (MIF), it will target high-growth companies with strong IP [...]
Copyright

Federal High Court Slams Pirate with One Year Sentence

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced an accused pirate, one Mr. Chekwesiri Chukwuamaka Josephat, to one year imprisonment for Copyright Infringement with an option of fine. The case, Charge No. FHC/L/409C/2015, NCC v. Chikwesiri [...]
Anti-Counterfeiting

Nigeria: MultiChoice Commends Copyright Commission, Trains Staff on Anti-Piracy

The management of MultiChoice Nigeria has commended the efforts of the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) in fighting broadcast piracy in Nigeria. MultiChoice is a major digital TV Broadcast Company and owners of DSTV and GOTV. [...]
Tech and Startups

Alibaba’s Yu’e Bao becomes world’s largest money market fund

Alibaba’s money market fund, Yu’e Bao, has surpassed JPMorgan Chase’s U.S. government market fund of $150 billion to become the world’s largest money market fund. According to the Financial Times, the four-year-old Yu’e Bao fund [...]

The Nigerian Music Industry: Consequences of COSON and MCSN Co-Existence

May 17, 2017

After years of court battle between Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) and Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN), the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, in April 2017 directed NCC to approve MCSN as a […]

Print Friendly

New Trademarks Journal Published in Nigeria

May 6, 2017

The Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry in Nigeria has published a new Trademarks Journal dated May 2, 2017. The Journal titled Trademarks Journal Vol. 1, No. 1., covers trademark applications filed manually at the Registry […]

Print Friendly

Federal High Court Slams Pirate with One Year Sentence

April 30, 2017

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced an accused pirate, one Mr. Chekwesiri Chukwuamaka Josephat, to one year imprisonment for Copyright Infringement with an option of fine. The case, Charge No. FHC/L/409C/2015, NCC v. Chikwesiri […]

Print Friendly

Free Distance Learning Courses Through WIPO

April 29, 2017

A couple of months ago, some of our staff and interns signed up for a number of free distance learning classes through the World Intellectual Property Organization eLearning Center. One of such classes is the DL-101 […]

Print Friendly

What it Takes to Renew Trademarks in Nigeria

April 28, 2017

In Nigeria, trademarks are valid for 7 years from the date of the initial application. Following the initial period of registration, Applicants may renew trademarks from time to time. Each renewal is valid for 14 years from […]

Print Friendly

How to Register a Trademark in the U.S.

April 15, 2017

In the U.S., registering your trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) allows you to enjoy federal law protection for your brand. 1. What types of trademark applications may be filed in […]

Print Friendly

Singapore’s IP Office Launches Innovation Fund

by Bob Aroture in Patents

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) recently launched a S$1 billion ($716.6 million) innovation fund with private equity firm Makara Capital. Called the Makara Innovation Fund (MIF), it will target high-growth companies with strong IP [...]

Alibaba’s Yu’e Bao becomes world’s largest money market fund

April 30, 2017

Alibaba’s money market fund, Yu’e Bao, has surpassed JPMorgan Chase’s U.S. government market fund of $150 billion to become the world’s largest money market fund. According to the Financial Times, the four-year-old Yu’e Bao fund [...]
Facebook’s Oculus Sued Over Virtual Reality Patent

April 10, 2017

Just two months after the $500 million verdict against Oculus VR LLC, a California-based technology licensing company, Techno View IP, has filed a suit against Oculus, Facebook’s virtual reality subsidiary, alleging patent infringement. The suit was [...]
Successful Candidates Announced for ICANN59 Fellowship

March 27, 2017

ICANN recently released the list of individuals selected to participate in ICANN’s Fellowship program at the 59th Public Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa from June 26-29, 2017. They include 55 individuals from 43 countries. According [...]

.AFRICA domains will soon open for business

March 6, 2017

The .Africa Top Level Domain will soon be available for businesses. The expectation comes after the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) overcame over five years of legal obstacles preventing it from delegating the [...]
Ericsson and Tigo Partner with GSMA Connecting Rural Tanzania

March 2, 2017

Ericsson recently announced a new partnership with Tanzanian mobile network operator Tigo. The two companies have partnered to launch the first of a series of rural pilot tower sites to provide mobile broadband coverage in [...]
Boston Dynamics’ New Robot Can Jump and Skate

February 28, 2017

Checkout Boston Dynamics new robot! The Google-owned robotics firm released a video of its six feet tall robot that can lifts 100 pounds, and jumps up to four feet. Boston Dynamics calls the robot Handle. [...]

China Launches Copyright Monitoring Website

April 30, 2017

China recently launched a website dedicated to monitoring copyright. The website, www.12426.cn, is managed by the Copyright Monitoring Center under the Copyright Society of China, providing identification, security monitoring, early warning and rights infringement solution [...]
Standards Organization of Nigeria Seizes Large Haul of Substandard Tyre in Abuja

April 27, 2017

The Standards Organization of Nigeria recently carried out a raid seizing thousands of tyres recently smuggled into Nigeria. The Tyres were impounded following a tip-off and subsequent investigation. The tyres which were packed by squeezing [...]
Happy World Intellectual Property Day!

April 26, 2017

Today is World Intellectual Property Day! World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated on April 26 of every year to “raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life” and “to celebrate [...]
WIPO Publishes Examination Guidelines Concerning Classification of Goods and Services

April 5, 2017

WIPO recently published Examination Guidelines Concerning the Classification of Goods and Services in International Applications. According to WIPO the document serves as a guide to the goods and services examination principles applied by its trademark [...]
Apple Gets Chinese Court Favor In Patent Dispute

March 27, 2017

A Beijing court has overturned a ruling that Apple’s iPhone 6 violated a Chinese manufacturer’s patent which saw the Apple ordered to cease selling the smartphone in Beijing. According to People’s Court Daily, the court ruled in [...]