The Complete Guide to Intellectual Property Protection in Nigeria (2025 Edition)

The Complete Guide to Intellectual Property Protection in Nigeria (2025 Edition)

October 22, 2025

In today’s business world, your ideas are your greatest assets. Whether you’ve created a logo, written a book, developed an app, designed a product, or invented something new, protecting your intellectual property (IP) is essential to securing your ownership and reaping the rewards of your innovation.

At 618 Bees, we help entrepreneurs, creators, and companies across Nigeria safeguard their intellectual property through expert registration, strategy, and enforcement services. This 2025 guide explains everything you need to know about IP protection in Nigeria and how we can help you get started.

  1. What Is Intellectual Property (IP)?

Intellectual Property (IP) refers to creations of the mind such as inventions, brand names, designs, artistic works, and software that are legally protected from unauthorized use.

The main forms of IP protection in Nigeria include:

  • Trademarks – for brand names, logos, and slogans
  • Copyrights – for literary, artistic, and creative works
  • Patents – for new inventions and innovations.
  • Industrial Designs – for product designs and aesthetics
  • Trade Secrets – for confidential business information

Each form of protection offers different rights, timelines, and processes.

  1. Trademarks: Protecting Your Brand Identity

A trademark distinguishes your goods or services from others in the market. It could be your brand name, logo, slogan, or even a unique sound or colour combination.

Key Facts:

Registered under the Trademarks Act, Cap T13, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004

Registration handled by the **Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry

We hope you find this information helpful. Feel free to reach out to us via our dedicated Call Center lines; +2349017190079/08080819653 (WhatsApp available) or 01-2803791 or by email via hello@618bees.com. We look forward to assisting you with all of your business and compliance filings in 2025. Contact us today!

 

 

 

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, no information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or professional advice from the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer. This post is protected by intellectual property law and regulations. It may however be shared using appropriate sharing tools provided that our authorship is always acknowledged and this Disclaimer Notice attached

 

 

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Frequently Asked

  • When are Annual Returns due for filing?

    A company’s first Annual Returns are due for filing after 18 months of its inception, subsequently it should be filed annually as the name implies. The filing dates could differ for each company depending on their financial year end but must be filed not later than 42 days after its Annual General Meeting.

    The Annual Returns for Business Names is due not later than the 30th of June each year except in the year the business was registered.
  • Must my Company Secretary be a Lawyer?

    Although it’s ideal to have a lawyer as a company secretary, it is not compulsory for small private businesses.
  • Why is mutual assent important in a contract?

    This is one of the key elements of a contract because is shows the meeting of the minds of both parties
  • Do I have to physically drop off my product sample at NAFDAC office?

    No, you can choose to have it sent to NAFDAC office
  • What is personal data?

    This is any information that can be used to identify an identifiable human person such passport photograph.
  • How long does a trademark registration in Nigeria Last?

    Trademark is valid for seven years from the date of application but you may renew the application for the trademark for an additional period of 14years.
  • What are the product categories available when registering with NAFDAC?

    The product categories include: Food, Cosmetics, Drug, Medical Device, Agro-Chemicals & Pesticide, Veterinary Products, Vaccines & Biologicals, Herbal and Nutraceuticals and Water
  • What’s the difference between a business name and an LLC?

    • A business name is a sole proprietorship, usually owned and managed by one individual only. Legally, the sole proprietor and his business are one. It simply means an individual trading with an alias. The sole proprietor is personally liable for all business related obligations.

    • A limited liability company on the other hand is a separate business entity from the individuals that hold its shares and act as directors. Legally, it’s a separate business entity and a person on its own who can transact business, own property separate from its owners and can sue or be sued. 
  • Does Trademark registration protect my website domain name?

    Yes, it does.
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