We bring you our quarterly Intellectual Property (IP) Newsletter, Volume 2, 2024. As we navigate the dynamic landscape of IP, this Newsletter serves as a guide to keep you informed of the latest IP related developments and trends in Nigeria. 

Activities at the Regulatory Agencies 

Trade Marks Registry 

• The Trademarks Registry recently announced an increase in the price of Trademarks Journal from  ₦21,000 (Twenty-one Thousand Naira) to ₦50,000 (Fifty Thousand Naira) per journal. The new price is expected to take effect from the next Trademarks Journal scheduled to be published before the end of the year. 

Patent and Designs Registry 

• On the 6th of May 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the Patents and Designs Registry hosted a one-day national workshop on the Budapest Treaty at the United Nations House, Abuja. The Objective of the workshop was to launch discussions and explore ways that the Nigerian Patents System can benefit from the provisions of the Budapest Treaty upon adoption. The treaty concerns patenting inventions related to Microorganisms which are deposited in an International Deposity Authority (IDA) that has the facility to receive, examine and preserve the microorganism for at least 30 years. The benefit of adopting the Treaty includes entitlement to establish an IDA facility; Support biological research and development in addition to cost efficiency.

• On 23 April 2024, the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN) in collaboration with the Patents & Designs Registry, hosted a webinar focusing on this year’s World IP Day (WIPD) theme: “IP and the SDGs: Building our Common Future with Innovation and Creativity.” This enlightening webinar featured a panel of seasoned IP professionals.

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) had a convergence meeting for member states and accredited observers between the 13th of May and the 24th of May 2024 for the final round of negotiations for the protection of Genetic Resources (GR) and its associated Traditional Knowledge (TK). The proposed international instrument is aimed to prevent patents from being erroneously granted for inventions that are not novel or new. 

• In April 2024, Mrs. Stella Ezenduka, former Chief Registrar, Patents and Designs Registry retired from service at the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Abuja. Her tenure was instrumental in overseeing the protection and administration of Patents and Designs rights in Nigeria. Barr. Jane Igwe, Deputy Chief Registrar of the Patents and Designs Registry has been appointed as the Acting Registrar of the Patents and Designs Registry. 

Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) 

• SON is working on collaborating with its counterparts for the harmonization of standards to encourage trade facilitation in Africa through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfTCTA). The unification of standards is scheduled to take place at the African Organisation for Standardisation’s 30th ARSO General Assembly to be held in Abuja between June 17th, 2024, and June 21st, 2024 at the Abuja International Conference Centre. 

Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)  

• In a recent development and to address the widespread problem of illicit trafficking and smuggling across borders, the European Union (EU) introduced a pioneering initiative titled, “Getaway Corridor” and focused on improving law enforcement and trade facilitation to combat illicit trafficking in Nigeria, at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja.  

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) 

• NAFDAC recently announced a public notification concerning the recall of Caro White Skin Lightening Beauty Lotion by the EU Rapid Alert System for Dangerous Non-Food Products (RAPEX). The recall was prompted by the product’s failure to meet compliance standards set by the Cosmetic Products Regulation, specifically due to its excessive concentration of Kojic Acid, surpassing the allowable maximum of one percent. This conclusion was reached by the EU Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers are advised to be cautious and vigilant regarding the use of this product. 

Nigeria Copyright Commission 

• On the 23rd April 2024, the Nigerian Copyright Commission celebrated World Book Day and Copyright Day with the theme, “Read your Way.” The celebration championed by the NCC happened simultaneously in states across the federation including Oyo, Enugu, Osun, Edo, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This year’s edition was dedicated to Prof. Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian Literary Icon in celebration of his 90th Birthday in July. 

Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment  

• The Ministry in collaboration with World Trade Organization (WTO) organised a national workshop on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. The workshop was set up to train stakeholders and build capacity for the implementation of WTO TRIP’s Agreement and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) set out in TRIPS agreement. Our Senior Associate, Regina Onwumere attended the training. 

Firms News 

• We are pleased to inform you that our Firm has made the IP Stars Global List as our Partner, Uche Nwokocha, is the ONLY Nigerian Practitioner featured in the recently published Top 250 Women in IP and IP STARS rankings worldwide. Please see the full list here.

• We are pleased to announce that our Firm has once again been ranked as a top-tier Nigerian law firm in the 2024 edition of the Legal 500 EMEA. This guide showcases the best lawyers and law firms across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Our firm was recognised in six key practice areas with an impressive number of our lawyers receiving individual rankings across these practice areas. View our full ranking here.

• The Firm was ranked in seven practice areas in the 2024 edition of Chambers Global Guide for Nigeria. The firm was recognised for its “West Africa-wide International & Cross-Border Capabilities.” Seventeen of our partners were also individually recognised as leading practitioners. Read the news here. 

• Our Partner, Uche Nwokocha was recognised as the ‘National Practitioner of the Year’ for Nigeria at the Managing IP Awards 2024 EMEA ceremony held in London on the 11th of April, 2024. In accepting the award, Uche Nwokocha remarked, “We are grateful for the acknowledgment of our extensive IP work and involvement in significant matters within the Nigerian and international market. We sincerely thank our clients and colleagues for this acknowledgment in what is a very rewarding area of practice”.

• Also, On March 26, 2024 our Partner, Uche Nwokocha was a speaker at a webinar on Intellectual Property Enforcement and Recordation in Kenya organized by the International Trademark Association (INTA) in collaboration with the Anti-Counterfeit Authority of Kenya. The webinar was moderated by the chair of INTA’s Anticounterfeiting Sub-Committee, Godfrey Budeli.

• In commemoration of the World Intellectual Property Day, 2024 the firm hosted a webinar on April 25, 2024, titled “Our common Future: Using IP to Enhance Innovation and Creativity in Achieving the SDGs.” The session was moderated by our Senior Associate, Regina Onwumere and our Partner, Ayokunle Adetula was a panelist, where he expounded on the various ways that Intellectual Property Rights could be maximized to empower innovators and creators to contribute to the sustainable development goals.

• On March 5, 2024, our Partner, Toritseju Dottie was invited by the National Action Committee on African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) to share some insights on the importance of IP law in implementing the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol. As a panellist alongside key public and private stakeholders, she discussed topical issues in relation to IP and technology.

• Also, Our Partner, Toritseju Dottie was a panellist at the webinar hosted by Patents & Designs Registry, in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Law Association of Nigeria (IPLAN) focusing on this year’s World IP Day theme: “IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with innovation and creativity.” This enlightening webinar features a panel of seasoned professionals renowned for their expertise in their respective fields.

• Our Firm held its annual Fintech Insider Series webinar on April 4th, 2024, themed, “The Resilience Factor: Overcoming Challenges in the Nigerian Fintech and Start-up Venture Capital in 2024.” Our guest speaker, Kola Aina, who is the founding partner of Ventures Capital, analysed the different ways of creating solutions to challenges in the Fintech Space in Nigeria. The webinar is accessible here.

• Our Senior Associate, Mrs. Regina Onwumere, represented the firm at the National Workshop on the Budapest Treaty held at the United Nations House, Abuja on 6th May, 2024 on the protection of inventions related to microorganisms. It was organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the Patents and Designs Registry. The Objective of the workshop was to essentially launch discussions and explore ways that the Nigerian Patent System can benefit from the provisions of the Budapest Treaty upon adoption. Some of the advantages of Budapest Treaty includes: Entitlement to establish an International Depositary Authority (IDA) in a country with competent facility; Higher probability of deposit of biological materials; Support biological research and development; Reduced costs of patent processes; and Possibility of receiving samples from the inventor.

• Our Senior Associate, Mrs. Regina Onwumere was also part of the panel that discussed the practical measures for combating counterfeits in Nigeria on 30th May, 2024 at the recently concluded FMITI/WTO workshop in Abuja, Nigeria.

• The Budapest Treaty Workshop organised by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in collaboration with the Patents and Designs Registry held on Monday, May 6, 2024, at the United Nations House, Abuja, FCT. 

• Our Intellectual Property Partners – Uche Nwokocha, Toritseju Dottie, and Ayokunle Adetula represented the firm at the 146th Annual Meeting of the International Trademarks Association (INTA) at Atlanta, Georgia USA on 18th May to 22nd May 2024. INTA is a global Not-for-profit organization of brand owners and professionals dedicated to supporting trademarks and complementary intellectual property to foster consumer trust, economic growth, and innovation, and committed to building a better society through brands. The INTA Annual Meeting is the organization’s largest event of the year where professionals across industries have robust conversations and exchange best practices in the intellectual property space.