Discover the risks and dangers of failing to register a trademark to understand the value and importance of trademark registration for your brand.
The Risks of Not Registering a Trademark
Nigeria Trademark Registration
Protect Your Brand in Nigeria Through a Simple Process Backed by Certified Local Attorneys
Simple steps to register your trademark
STEP 1
Comprehensive Trademark Study
Before filing your trademark in Nigeria, you must evaluate any issues that may arise during the registration process. Our Comprehensive Trademark Study not only lists similar trademarks (graphic and phonetic) that may conflict with yours but also provides you with an Attorney's opinion on the trademark registration possibilities and the class(es) that your goods/services belong to.
- Graphic and phonetic similarity trademark search report
- Trademark attorney's analysis and advice
- Trademark class recommendation
STEP 2
Trademark Application Filing
Specialized attorneys will file your trademark application in Nigeria and carry out all the necessary formalities to bring your application for approval and registration. As soon as your trademark is filed, we will send you a filing report that will include the application number and application date. Also, we will send you a scanned copy of the filed application.
- Process Handled by Experienced Trademark Attorneys
- Filing the Report & a Scanned Copy of the application
- Tracking the Registration Process Online
STEP 3
Trademark Registration Certificate
Once your trademark application is approved, our attorneys complete all the formalities necessary to obtain the registration certificate in Nigeria. After the certificate is issued, it is forwarded to your address along with a registration report specifying the registration number, registration date, and any special consideration that should be taken into account in Nigeria.
- Process Handled by Experienced Trademark Attorneys
- Delivery of Registration Certificate & Report
- Monitoring & Notification of Important Dates
Additional Services in Nigeria
Discover how our services help protect and strengthen your brand in Nigeria.
Trademark Renewal
Renew your trademark to maintain uninterrupted protection for your brand.
Renew TrademarkDomain Registration
Safeguard your local domain with ease through our trusted partner, Register.Domains.
Search .NG DomainsFrom our Blog
National vs. International Trademark Registration
Discover how national and international trademark registration compare, the pros and cons of each, and which is right for you.
Commonly Asked Questions About Trademark Registration
Learn answers to some of the most commonly asked questions on trademark registrations to improve your trademark knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
If I register my trademark in Nigeria, will it be protected in other countries?
Trademark registration in Nigeria only provides protection within the country's borders.
What actions are necessary to meet the usage requirement for a trademark?
To satisfy the use requirement, a trademark must be actively used within a period of five consecutive years or more. The usage can be minimal as long as it is genuine and conducted by the trademark owner. This use must take place in Nigeria.
Does registering a trademark in Nigeria grant me any legal rights?
To have initial rights to a trademark, you need to register it. In Nigeria, the 'first to file' principle applies.
What is the typical duration for trademark registration approval?
The typical time it takes to get a trademark registered is about 18 months, as long as there are no objections or challenges.
How long is a trademark valid once it has been registered?
The trademark registration is valid for seven years starting from the date you apply.
What are the reasons for which a registration can be canceled?
Here are reasons why a registration might be canceled:
- The mark is considered generic.
- The mark is merely descriptive.
- The mark goes against public policy or moral principles.
- The mark lacks distinctiveness.
- The mark is misleading, disparaging, or deceptive.
- The mark contains a badge or emblem of significant public interest.
- Non-compliance with Section VIII.A. Use Requirements.
Do I need to use my trademark before applying for registration?
You need to have used the trademark before applying, but planning to use it is also acceptable.
Who is eligible to challenge my trademark application?
Anyone can challenge a trademark application, such as:
- any party with a vested interest
- the holder of a prior right
- a license holder
What rights do you gain by registering a trademark?
Registering a trademark gives you the following rights:
- the sole right to use the trademark
- the ability to challenge later applications that conflict with your trademark
- the power to cancel a later registration that conflicts with your trademark
- the right to allow others to use the trademark through licensing
- the authority to ask customs to seize counterfeit goods
- the right to sue others for using a mark that is confusingly similar
- the right to claim damages or compensation for trademark infringement
Can you claim priority for a trademark application in Nigeria?
You can claim priority for your application in Nigeria if:
- Your home country is part of the Paris Convention
- You filed your home application within the last six months before applying in Nigeria
Note: The trademark office treats all international applications as "non-Convention."
Do I need to provide a Power of Attorney?
Yes, every applicant must provide a power of attorney.
What are the steps involved in the trademark application process in Nigeria after filing?
The application process follows these steps:
- classification
- formalities
- distinctiveness
- descriptiveness
- conflicts with existing registrations
- deceptiveness
- application number
- application date
- trademark
- goods/services
- applicant's state or country of incorporation (optional)
- applicant's name
- applicant's citizenship (optional)
- applicant's address
- priority claim details
- trademark representation
What is the duration of the opposition period for a trademark after it is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal?
The opposition period starts on the date the trademark is advertised in the Trade Marks Journal, which is the publication date of the Journal.
The opposition period concludes two months after the trademark is published in the Trade Marks Journal.
Still have questions?