December 4, 2015 — As part of the patent application process, the invention must be described with specificity. This is because vague or general descriptions do not necessarily offer additional protection.
Begin by choosing a title that clearly describes the subject of the invention. For example “Devices and Methods for Transferring Data Through the Human Body” or “Dispenser for Beverages Including Juices”. Next, spend considerable time not only describing the structural components that make up the invention but also the technical connections that are necessary for the invention to perform specified functions.
One major problem with giving a vague description is that due to the lack of specific information, a search will more than certainly reveal an existing patent — one already filed with the Patents and Designs Registry in Abuja. The application should be detailed (almost like an instruction manual) showing the structural components, how things are connected, modifications, materials used, alternatives and optional features, uniqueness of the invention, and the patentable features that set the invention apart from previously granted patents.
While the Patent & Designs Registry in Nigeria does not currently scrutinize patent applications as to the level of specificity provided in patent applications (what we currently have is more of a deposit system), it is important to ensure that, irrespective of any scrutiny, what you seek to protect is properly described and filed.
