How to File a Patent Application in Nigeria HOW TO FILE A PATENT APPLICATION IN NIGERIA The Lex Artifex Law Office has introduced the IP Helpdesk to assist businesses in protecting their Intellectual Property (IP) agus a fhorfheidhmiú a gCearta Maoine Intleachtúla (IPR) nuair a gnó a dhéanamh i nó le Nigéir. Tugann an foilseachán léargas ar conas chun an comhad iarratas ar phaitinn sa Nigéir. CAD É A PAITINNE? Tá paitinn ceart dlíthiúil a chosaint ar aireagán, a sholáthraíonn réiteach nua agus nuálacha teicniúla chun fadhb. Tá an t-úinéir ar phaitinn an ceart do dhaoine eile a stopadh ó leas a bhaint as ó thaobh na tráchtála an t-aireagán a chosaint, mar shampla trí, ag baint úsáide as, allmhairiú nó a dhíol sé, sa tír nó sa réigiún ina bhfuil an phaitinn a bheith deonaithe. LÉIGH: Requirements for Registering a Trademark in Nigeria WHAT KIND OF INVENTION IS PATENTABLE? Tá aireagán inphaitinnithe má tá sé nua, nó torthaí ó gníomhaíocht airgtheach agus a úsáid chun críocha tionsclaíocha; nó, inarb ionann agus feabhas ar a aireagán paitinnithe agus freisin go bhfuil nua, torthaí ó ghníomhaíocht airgtheach agus tá sé a úsáid chun críocha tionsclaíocha. Tá aireagán a úsáid chun críocha tionsclaíocha más féidir aireagán a monaraíodh nó a úsáid in aon chineál tionscail, lena n-áirítear talmhaíocht. Ní féidir na bPaitinní, however, a fháil i ndáil le cineálacha plandaí nó ainmhíoch nó próisis go bunúsach bitheolaíochta le haghaidh táirgeadh plandaí nó ainmhithe (seachas mhicribhitheolaíocha agus a dtáirgí); Ni féidir aireagáin is fhoilsiú nó a shaothrú a bheadh ​​contrártha don ord poiblí nó don mhoráltacht; nó prionsabail agus fionnachtana de chineál eolaíoch. An tAcht um Paitinní agus Dearaí de 1971 Is é an phríomhreachtaíocht a rialaíonn clárú agus a fhorfheidhmiú paitinní sa Nigéir. Na Rialacha na bPaitinní Rialaíonn na nósanna imeachta arna nglacadh ag an gClárlann Paitinne. CÉ ÚSÁIDÍ A PAITINNE? Is Paitinne shócmhainn luachmhar do chuideachtaí, corparáidí, institiúidí taighde agus ollscoileanna chomh maith le ag daoine aonair agus fiontair bheaga agus mheánmhéide. HOW TO FILE A PATENT APPLICATION IN NIGERIA A patent application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty ("PCT") at the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (EDMI) or at the Nigerian Patent Office must contain the following: A petition or request for registration with the principal's full name and address; A sonraíocht, lena n-áirítear d'éileamh nó éilimh faoi dhó; Na pleananna agus na líníochtaí, if any, i ndúblach; Dearbhú sínithe ag an aireagóir fíor; Seoladh le haghaidh seirbheála i Nigéir má tá do sheoladh lasmuigh Nigéir; Más mian leat a ghiaráil ar thosaíocht coigríche i leith d'iarratas níos túisce a rinneadh i dtír lasmuigh Nigéir, Bheadh ​​d'iarratas bheith dearbhú scríofa a léiríonn an méid seo a leanas a bheith ag gabháil: - an dáta agus uimhir an iarratais roimhe sin, - the country in which the earlier application was made, - your name as indicated in the earlier application You would have to file a patent application at the Nigerian Patent Office through an accredited patent attorney in Nigeria - who will act as your "Attorney on Record" agus gníomhaire. Más mian leat chun an comhad ar phaitinn idirnáisiúnta, Tá Chuardach idirnáisiúnta is gá chun measúnú tosaigh ar an inphaitinneacht an aireagáin atáthar ag iarraidh a chlárú. Leanfar leis an Foilsiú na Tuarascála Search Idirnáisiúnta. Beidh an Tuarascáil Search Idirnáisiúnta a fhoilsiú tar éis deireadh na 18 mhí ón dáta tosaíochta an iarratais (i.e., dáta comhdaithe nó an dáta comhdaithe d'iarratas níos túisce as a n-éileamh sí tosaíocht, más infheidhme). ar fhoilsiú, beidh do aireagán a bheith ar eolas go poiblí. Is Nigéir ina sínitheoir an Chonartha Chomhoibriú Paitinne na EDMI agus tá rochtain dhíreach ar tháirgí oibre CCP, lena n-áirítear Tuarascáil Search International, an Tuairim Scríofa an Údaráis Cuardach Idirnáisiúnta agus Tuarascálacha Réamhscrúdú International. Gach comhduithe paitinne idirnáisiúnta roimh faoin gcóras CCP Glactar sa Nigéir ar chlárúchán agus forfheidhmiú críochach. Cá is mian leat leas a bhaint as duit féin ar thosaíocht coigríche i ndáil le hiarratas ar phaitinn roimhe sin comhdaíodh faoin gcóras CCP nó chomhdú i dtír lasmuigh Nigéir, Beidh dearbhú scríofa ag taispeáint an dáta agus uimhian tír ina ndearnadh an t-iarratas níos luaitheigéir, the country in which the earlier application was made, agus d'ainm. Is riachtanas gur chóir go mbeadh níos mó ná trí mhí a bheith caite ó an t-iarratas sa tír tosaigh ndearnadh. Beidh ort cóip dheimhnithe den iarratas roimhe sin a chur ar fáil ag Oifig na bPaitinní (nó a choibhéis) sa tír ina ndearnadh an t-iarratas níos luaithe. NÓTA: Féadfar iarratas CCP a chomhdú sa Nigéir mar an chéad comhdaithe nó, de rogha air sin, d'fhéadfadh sé tús áite a éileamh ó iarratas iomchuí ar a comhdaíodh suas go dtí 3 mí roimh ré, sa chás sin beidh an t-iarratas CCP amhail is dá mbeadh sé comhdaíodh ar an dáta céanna leis an t-iarratas níos luaithe. Is é an ceart chun paitinne i leith aireagáin dílsithe nach bhfuil sa "úinéir fíor", but in the “statutory inventor”, ina bhfuil cás an duine is an chéad chun an comhad an t-iarratas ar phaitinn, nó is féidir leo a leagan go bailí éileamh ar thosaíocht eachtrach d'iarratas ar phaitinn a comhdaíodh i leith an aireagáin. The WIPO-administered Patent Cooperation Treaty (CCP) Is conradh do chuíchóiriú agus a chomhordú i ndáil le comhdú, cuardach agus scrúdú a dhéanamh ar iarratas ar phaitinn agus scaipeadh na faisnéise teicniúla atá ann. Tugann an CCP iarratasóirí atá ag lorg cosaint paitinne i dtíortha difriúla níos éasca le húsáid, éifeachtach ó thaobh costais agus rogha éifeachtach. By filing one “international patent achtion" faoi ​​CCP leis an oifig amháin paitinn (an "oifig glactha"). The Nigerian IP Office grants patents which have the same effect as though the applications were filed in the WIPO Member states since Nigeria is a signatory to the Patent Cooperation Treaty. However, the PCT does not provide for the grant of "international patents" mar go bhfuil an fhreagracht as paitinní a dheonú sin de na nOifigí Paitinne tír faoi seach i gcás ina ndéantar iarratas. The enforcement of “international patents” lies within the jurisdiction of each Member State. Is é an infhorfheidhmitheacht ar phaitinn críochach, rud a chiallaíonn go bhfuil paitinn infheidhmithe ach amháin sa Nigéir amháin ar chlárú baile bailí leis hOifig na bPaitinní Nigéir. Chomh luath agus go bhfuil iarratas ar phaitinn a deonaíodh, Is an phaitinn bailí ar feadh 20 years and is subject to annual renewals. PATENT REGISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT IN NIGERIA Lex Artifex LLP offers a full range of patent application preparation and prosecution services. Cuimsíonn ár bhfoireann Attorneys IP & Aturnaetha creidiúnaithe ag an Oifig Nigéir IP. I gcás chomhdú ar phaitinn sa Nigéir, we require the details of the invention and a Power of Attorney to act. BILLING ARRANGEMENT For the billing arrangement, cliceáil anseo: Costas Comhdú Iarratas Paitinne sa Nigéir. The Lex Artifex LLP Patent Services Cover the following: Preparation of pamás annpplications Patent search Filings with WIPO or the Nigerian IP Office Representation as “Attorney on Record” Advisory on IP law Provision of local address for the service of government papers and correspondences, Cosaint do freasúra (if any), Cothabháil athnuachana paitinne. Le haghaidh comhairle IPR gnó dírithe, déan teagmháil linn inniu, ríomhphost ag lexartifexllp@lexartifexllp.com, glaoch +234.803.979.5959. Lex Artifex LLP’s Intellectual Property Practice Group How to File a Patent Application in Nigeria

Comprehensive Guide to Patent Registration in Nigeria

Securing a patent in Nigeria is crucial for safeguarding your invention and gaining exclusive rights to its commercial exploitation. This detailed guide explores the essential steps, requirements, and legal framework governing patent registration in Nigeria. Whether you are an entrepreneur, researcher, or business owner, understanding this process is key to protecting your intellectual property and fostering innovation.

What is a Patent?

A patent is a legal instrument granting an inventor exclusive rights to their innovation. It prevents unauthorized commercial use, enabling the patent holder to manufacture, dhíol, allmhairiú, or otherwise utilize the invention within the jurisdiction of registration.

Sa Nigéir, patents offer a competitive advantage by protecting the originality of an invention and encouraging technological advancements.

Criteria for Patentability in Nigeria

To secure a patent in Nigeria, your invention must meet specific criteria as outlined in the Patents and Designs Act of 1971:

  • Novelty: The invention must be original and not previously disclosed anywhere in the world.
  • Inventiveness: It should exhibit an inventive step, offering a unique solution to a technical problem.
  • Industrial Applicability: The invention must be applicable in industry or agriculture and capable of practical use.

These requirements ensure that patents are granted only for innovations that contribute to societal and technological progress.

Who Can Apply for a Patent?

Patents are valuable to a diverse range of entities, san áireamh:

  • Individual inventors and entrepreneurs.
  • Universities and research institutions.
  • Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
  • Corporations seeking to protect innovative products or processes.

Steps to Patent Registration in Nigeria

Applying for patent registration in Nigeria involves a structured process. Here are the key steps:

1. Prepare the Required Documents

To initiate a patent application, you will need:

  • A formal request for patent registration in Nigeria, detailing the inventor’s name and address.
  • A comprehensive specification of the invention, including claims, Líon, or diagrams where applicable.
  • Dearbhú sínithe ag an aireagóir fíor.
  • An address for service in Nigeria if the applicant resides abroad.

2. Provide Foreign Priority Details (If Applicable)

If the invention has been filed previously in another country or under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (CCP), include:

  • The date and number of the earlier application.
  • The country of the initial filing.
  • A certified copy of the earlier application from the issuing patent office.

3. Engage a Certified Patent Attorney

Patent applications in Nigeria must be filed through an accredited patent attorney. These professionals serve as your Attorney of Record, ensuring compliance with local regulations and facilitating communication with the Nigerian Patent Office.

4. Submit the Application

Submit your application to the Nigerian Patent Office. For PCT applications, ensure adherence to the 30-month deadline for claiming priority. For patent filing through the Paris Convention route, ensure adherence to the 12-month deadline for claiming priority.

5. Await Examination and Grant

After submission, the application undergoes a formal review. Once approved, the Nigerian Patent Office grants the patent, which remains valid for 20 blianta, subject to annual renewals.

Key Considerations for Patent Registration in Nigeria

  • Territorial Scope: A patent registered in Nigeria is enforceable only within its borders.
  • PCT System: Nigeria’s participation in the PCT allows international filings to be registered locally.
  • First-to-File Principle: Sa Nigéir, patent rights are granted to the first person to file the application, emphasizing the importance of timely registration.

Why Patent Registration in Nigeria Matters

Registering a patent in Nigeria not only safeguards your intellectual property but also enhances your market position. It provides legal backing to prevent unauthorized use and offers potential revenue through licensing or commercialization.

Conclusion

Patent registration in Nigeria is a critical step in protecting your innovation and ensuring its commercial viability. By adhering to the legal requirements and engaging experienced professionals, you can secure robust intellectual property protection.

If you’re ready to navigate the patent process or have specific questions, consult with us at lexartifexllp@lexartifexllp.com agus +2348039795959.