Protect Your Brand: The Importance of Trademark Registration

A trademark is a symbol or sign that distinguishes the goods and services of one business from those of another. Protecting your brand—whether it’s a name, logo, slogan, domain name, shape, or color—through trademark registration is crucial for safeguarding your business from unfair competition. Registration provides legal protection against exploitative use by competitors.

A trademark must be distinctive for the goods and services you offer. It cannot be deceptive, illegal, or immoral, and it should not be confusingly similar to existing brands, especially in terms of the name. Our team provides services related to the registration of trademarks, patents, and designs for a variety of clients.

Required Information for Trademark Registration

To begin the trademark registration process, we require the following information:

• Applicant’s Details: The full name(s) and physical address of the applicant, along with written authorization.

• Company Information (if applicable): If the registrant is a company, we will need the company name, address, and written authorization on the company’s letterhead for us to act as your agents.

• Logo: The logo representation must be clear and distinct. Soft copies should be provided in JPEG format at a minimum of 1200 dpi with dimensions of 120px by 100px (length by width).

We generally advise registering a trademark in plain black and white, as this provides protection for all color variations of the brand’s presentation. However, while this approach offers broad protection, it can also lead to similarities with other monochrome marks, especially where color plays a significant distinguishing role. Therefore, if color is a defining aspect of your brand, you may choose to register the logo in your preferred color to avoid potential rejection by the examiner.

Trademark Registration Process

Every trademark application must be advertised in the Nigerian Trademark Journal and is open to opposition for two months from the advertisement date. If no objections are raised within this period, or if the Registrar dismisses any complaints, the applicant can then apply for a registration certificate, which the registry will subsequently issue.

Trademark Lifespan

Nigerian trademark registrations have an initial validity of seven years and are indefinitely renewable for subsequent periods of fourteen years. A renewal application should be submitted no less than three months before the expiration date.

The Benefits of Trademark Registration

Registering your trademark offers several key advantages:

• Brand Protection: It establishes your exclusive right to use the mark in connection with your goods and services, preventing others from copying or imitating it.

• Customer Trust: A registered trademark signals quality and reliability to consumers, building brand recognition and fostering customer loyalty.

• Business Asset: A registered trademark can be a valuable intangible asset for your business, adding to its overall worth.