Skip to main content

WHY REGISTER YOUR TRADEMARK IN NIGERIA?

 

Trademark is any word, phrase, logo, or symbol used to distinguish goods and services offered by one undertaking from those offered by another. It is an intangible asset and can be regarded as a commercial signature.

Your business name and logo is the distinguishing factor of your business. It is of immense value to your brand and sets it apart from other brands. It is also important to protect your brand from infringement by third parties. Registering a trademark in Nigeria has the following benefits;

(a) Exclusive right

Trademark registration grants exclusive right of ownership to your trading name or logo. Your trading name or logo is your brand's identity and trademark. It grants exclusive commercial rights. It also prevents other businesses from using similar names or marks.

(b) Unique marketing tool

Your business trademark is its marketing tool unique to its products. This will make your products to be easily distinguishable from similar products in the market.

(c) Protection against infringement

Incorporating a company at the Corporate Affairs Commission ("CAC") only prevents other persons from registering a business with a similar name to yours. It does not guarantee the protection of intellectual property in the name. This is why you need to register the trademark of your business to protect the intellectual property in its trade name.

(d) Protection of trade name and incorporated name

Trademark registration is also important when your trading name differs from the incorporated name or when your business is a holding company to various businesses. Trademark registration will ensure that both the trading name and incorporated name are protected.

(e) Right to action against unauthorised use

Trademark registration protects the brand of your business against unauthorized use by third parties. Legal actions may be commenced to stop third parties from infringing your brand or trademark and obtain huge compensation for any infringement.

(f) Company Reputation

Registering a trademark protects the reputation in which your business has garnered over the years. This will attract customers willing to pay a premium price for the security and reputation that comes with your registered trademark. This will increase the value of the business and help it grow faster.

(g) Assignment of trademark

A registered trademark can be assigned or licensed to third parties for a fee. This will create additional revenue for your business. Registration of a trademark allows agents of your business to use its name or logo legitimately, especially if your business is planning to expand through franchising.

(h) International registration

Although there is no treaty in which Nigeria is a signatory which makes trademarks registered in Nigeria to be automatically deemed registered in member countries, usage and registration of trademark in Nigeria gives the trademark preference for registration in other countries.

(i) Requirement to obtain operation licence

Trademark registration is a requirement to obtain an operating licence in some sectors in Nigeria.

(j) Indefinite lifespan

Registered trademarks have an indefinite lifespan. They only have to be renewed after some time and there are no limits to renewals.

In conclusion, registering your trademark has various benefits. You must take advantage of these benefits!

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGES IN NIGERIA: A STATUTORY APPROACH

  Marriages contracted under the Marriage Act can only be dissolved in accordance with Matrimonial Causes Act (“ MCA ”). These are statutory marriages conducted in the any of the marriage registries in Nigeria (which are popularly referred to as Court marriages) and marriages conducted by churches who are licensed by the Government to conduct statutory marriages. Marriages conducted under native law and custom (aka traditional marriages), marriages in churches that are not licensed (aka white marriages) cannot be dissolved under the MCA. The 2 Year Rule Dissolution of a statutory marriage under the MCA cannot be instituted within 2 years of the commencement of the marriage [1] except with the permission of the Court. [2]   This is called the 2 year rule. There are a few exceptions to this 2 year rule and these include instances where one of the parties to the marriage committed adultery, has refused to consummate the marriage, has committed rape, sodomy or bestiality ...
Post a Comment
Read more

LEGAL MATTERS IN BUSINESS; IMPLICATIONS OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 2020, THE FINANCE ACT OF 2019 AND THE FINANCE ACT OF 2020 ON SMALL AND MEDIUM SCALE ENTERPRISES

  Nigeria is the Country with the largest GDP in Africa and SMEs make up for 95% of the business in the Country. Needless to say, SMEs play a very important role the growth and development of the economy of Nigeria. The Government has made some laudable attempts to promote the ease of doing business in Nigeria. In the past three years three laws have been passed to improve business operations in Nigeria. These are the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020, the Finance Act of 2019 and the Finance Act of 2020. We shall review the implications of the these laws on SMEs in Nigeria.   THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT 2020   The Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 repealed the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 and it was passed into law by an assent of the President on the 7 th of August, 2020.   This aim of this act was to ease and improve the operations of businesses in Nigeria. The Act introduced new modalities like the decrease in the incorporation f...
Post a Comment
Read more

YOU DON'T HAVE A RIGHT?

                      Every citizen of Nigeria has fundamental rights which are enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended). The importance of fundamental rights cannot be over emphasized as they are the bedrock of any democratic society. These rights include a citizen’s right to life, right to dignity of person and right to personal liberty amongst other rights. However, there are certain limitations imposed on these rights by the Constitution where in such instances, a citizen’s fundamental right would not have been violated. We shall consider these fundamental rights and also the limitations in an attempt to answer the question: “To what ext...
Post a Comment
Read more