1E9Ct5D

www.spnglegal.com_____________________________________________________________________________________ signification are not eligible for registration in Nigeria as trademarks. Once registered, the trademark isassignable and transmissible either in connection with the goodwill of a business or not.Procedure and Requirements for RegistrationSTEP 1 Prepare applica3on on relevant staturory form and payment of prescribed fees STEP 2 • Acknowledgement form is issued • Registrar conducts search of the trademark register STEP 3 • Acceptance or refusal form is issued by the registrar • Acceptance is published in trademark journal and invi3ng objec3on(s) • issuance of cer3ficate where no objec3on is raised Who can apply?Application for trademark registration can be filed directly by the applicant or through his local agent. Anapplicant must provide an address for service within Nigeria where he chooses to file the applicationdirectly.Grounds for refusalA trademark may be refused registration on the grounds that:§ it is not distinctive, that it is deceptive or scandalous, contrary to law or morality or in any waydisentitled to protection;§ that it contains some prohibited words and/symbols such as the names of chemical substances,Coat of Arms, the words “patent”, “patented”, “registered”, “registered design”, “copyright”, “tocounterfeit this is a forgery”, or words to the like effect and so on.Duration and RenewalThe initial registration is valid for 7 years and may be renewed for a period of fourteen years from thedate of expiration of the original registration or of the last renewal of registration. Application for renewal_____________________________________________________________________________________Doing Business in NigeriaAn Investor’s Guide- 2013Page 29 of 36