Safeguarding innovation, brand assets, and creative works
In the modern digital economy, intellectual property is often a company\'s most valuable asset. Medina Law Associates & Co. helps creators, inventors, startups, and established brands secure, manage, and monetize their trademarks, patents, and copyrights in Nigeria and globally.
We guide you through searches, registration procedures, licensing negotiations, and enforcement actions. In the event of an infringement, our experienced litigators aggressively defend your intellectual properties in court or negotiate settlement terms.
Trademarks & Brand Protection
We handle clearance searches, application filing, renewals, and opposition proceedings at the Nigerian Trade Marks Registry to protect corporate names, logos, slogans, and product packaging designs.
Patents & Licensing
We help technology firms and manufacturing clients patent industrial processes and designs. We structure licensing deals, distribution rights, franchise agreements, and joint-development contracts.
Our Core Capabilities
- Trademark clearance searches and registration.
- Patent applications, searches, and registrations (National and PCT).
- Drafting of software licenses, technology transfers, and franchise agreements.
- IP audits and portfolio management.
- Copyright registration and representation in piracy/infringement litigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
A trademark registration in Nigeria typically takes between 6 to 12 months from filing to certification. Once registered, a trademark is valid for an initial period of 7 years, and can be renewed indefinitely for consecutive periods of 14 years.
No. Patents are territorial. To protect a foreign invention in Nigeria, you must file a national phase application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) or register it directly with the Nigerian Patents and Designs Registry.
Under the Nigerian Copyright Act, copyright protection is automatic upon the creation of an original work in a fixed, tangible medium. However, registering the work with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) provides vital documentary evidence in litigation.
Remedies for infringement include court injunctions to stop the illegal activity, damages or account of profits, delivery up or destruction of infringing materials, and criminal prosecution under copyright and trademark acts.
