Patent Registration Agent & Copyright Registration in Nigeria
Protect your invention with a patent, and your creative work with copyright — two different rights, both separate from your trademark.
Patent vs. Copyright vs. Trademark
A patent protects an invention — a new product or process. Copyright protects creative and literary works — writing, music, art, software. A trademark protects your brand name and logo. All three are handled differently and protect different things.
Patents are governed by the Patents and Designs Act and handled by the Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry. Copyright is governed by the Copyright Act 2022 and administered by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC).
Patent Registration Process
- Search — check whether a similar invention has already been patented
- Application — file a petition with the invention's description, plans, and claims
- Formal examination — the Registry checks formal requirements (no substantive novelty examination in Nigeria)
- Grant — once formal requirements are met, the patent is granted
- Annual fees — required ongoing to keep the patent in force for its full 20-year term
Patent Protection
Valid for 20 years from filing, provided annual renewal fees are paid — miss a payment and the patent lapses.
Copyright Protection
Exists automatically on creation; registration via NCeRS gives an official certificate as strong evidence of ownership. Protection lasts life of the author plus 70 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Possibly both, if applicable — a patent protects how your product works or is made, while a trademark protects the brand name and logo you sell it under. They serve completely different purposes.
No. Copyright protection exists automatically once you create an original work. Registration is optional but strongly recommended, since it gives you an official certificate as evidence of ownership.
Not usually on its own — software is generally treated as a literary work under copyright law. A patent may be possible only if the software interacts with hardware to produce a genuinely novel technical invention.
20 years from the date of filing, provided the required annual fees are paid to keep it in force.
Copyright protects original creative works like writing, music, and art. Trademark protects brand identifiers like names, logos, and slogans used in the marketplace.
Ready to Protect Your Work?
Lifehampers Global Consults can guide you through patent or copyright registration, alongside CAC registration and other compliance needs.