by Omowunmi Oladokun
Intellectual property right is your right to own your creative and artistic work without an intruder or third party interference. It recognises that your intellectual work is your private property and the general public must be precluded from depriving you of such rights
The 1999 Constitution in Nigeria protects you and gives you the right to acquire immovable and moveable property and your intellectual property being an intangible asset is included.
The question still remains unclear whether we can classify Intellectual property as immoveable property in Nigeria.
TYPES OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN NIGERIA.
1.Copyright : it protects original literary, musical and artistic work, films, sound recordings from being copied by others.
Nigeria Copyright Commission is responsible for registering your creative work and they give you a documentary evidence of ownership of such work and it is useful whenever dispute arises on who owns a particular work.
2.Trademark: It is a legally protected symbol, logo or design that is peculiar to a company or an organisation. It distinguishes goods and services from others and prevent the public from duplicating or using something similar to deceive the public.
Intellectual Property Office under the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment is responsible for registering trademarks in Nigeria.
They advertise your trademark for opposition possibility for sometimes before issuing a certificate of registration of trademark.
3.PATENT & INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: Patent protects inventions, technological works, machines or manufacturing process.
Industrial designs protects your visual, ornamental or artistic work. This is majorly used by Fashion Designers and Engineers to protect there designs from the public..
A patent is usually valid for 20 Years from the filing date and it protects real and original work.
The Intellectual Property Office is responsible for registering Patent and Industrial designs.
In conclusion, despite the legislation and protection from Intellectual Property Office in Nigeria, Piracy is still quite rampant and Government must endeavour to protect the uniqueness of each creative work so that they don’t lose there values and profits.
