MAY 2021 NEWS
RICHMAN THOMMANUEL AND UCHE NWOKOCHA
Aluko & Oyebode IP news team brings you the Second Quarter Volume 2 of our Intellectual Property newsletter.
Activities at the Regulatory Agencies
As the government regulatory agencies continue to open activities with the public during this period:
- The Honourable Trademarks Registrar, Mr Shafiu Yauri joined the Nation’s think tank, Course 43 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Jos. The Course is expected to last for a period of one year, and in the interim Mrs Ann Titiloye Adeyeye has been appointed as the Acting Registrar.
- The Patents & Designs Registry published its first edition of the Patents and Designs Journal. The publication of the Journals Vol. 1 No. 1 of 17 March 2021 and Vol. 1 No. 2 of 26 March 2021 is in accordance with sections 5(3) and 17(3) of the Patents & Designs Act 1970. The Registry indicated that applicants who seek to oppose or petition any registration advertised should notify the Registrar within two months from the date of the publication. This mirrors the two-month window that is encouraged by the Trade Marks Registry.
- Further, the Registrar of Patents and Designs stated that the Registry is working assiduously with the Minister of Trade and Investment to gazette the Rules that will allow the registration of utility models in Nigeria. This will provide certain rights over some inventions that are generally not patentable due to their nature in Nigeria, which will meet the increasing demand by entrepreneurs and stakeholders in the country.
