Trademark Registration Guidelines: 2023 Update Nigeria

Trademark Registration Guidelines for Protecting Your Intellectual Property

Ensure the security of your intellectual property rights with our comprehensive Trademark Registration Guidelines. These essential instructions empower businesses to safeguard their brand, logos, and product names, preserving their distinctiveness in the market.

What is a Trademark?

A trademark serves as a distinctive sign, symbol, or expression identifying your business's products and services, setting them apart from others in the industry.

Register your trademark officially with the Commercial Law Department in the Ministry of Trade and Investment in Nigeria, in accordance with the Trademarks Act Chapter 436 of 1990. This legal step is crucial for protecting your business identity.

Trademark registration grants you exclusive rights, preventing unauthorized use or copying by third parties without consent. As a registered trademark owner, you can take legal action to block infringements and protect your brand.

Requirements for Trademark Registration

1. Provide the applicant's full name, nationality, and physical address.
2. Clearly represent the trademark; for online registration, submit soft copies in JPEG format with a minimum resolution of 1200 dpi.
3. Understand that the International Classification of Goods is the standard for registering goods in Nigeria.
4. Submit a power of attorney with full details of the applicant(s) and, if applicable, the signatory's name, address, and nationality.

Procedures for Trademark Registration

1. Instruct a local Attorney/Agent in Nigeria to handle your trademark registration application at the Nigerian Registry of Trademarks, Patents, Designs, and Copyrights.
2. Receive an official acknowledgment from the registrar, indicating the application number and filing date.
3. Conduct a thorough search to confirm the uniqueness of the trademark. Upon acceptance, receive a letter/notice of acceptance.
4. Advertise the trademark application in the Nigerian Trademark Journal for two months, allowing for opposition.
5. In the absence of objections, obtain a certificate of registration from the registrar.
6. The Registration Certificate includes the initial filing date.
7. Nigerian trademark registrations are valid for seven years initially and indefinitely renewable in fourteen-year periods. Renewal applications should be submitted at least three months before the due date.

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