Intellectual Property for Business

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Publications in the “Intellectual Property for Business” 

series:

1. 

Making a Mark:  An Introduction to Trademarks for Small and Medium-sized Enter-

prises.  WIPO publication No. 900. 

2. 

Looking Good:  An Introduction to Industrial Designs for Small and Medium-sized 

Enterprises.  WIPO publication No. 498. 

3. 

Inventing the Future:  An Introduction to Patents for Small and Medium-sized Enter-

prises.  WIPO publication No. 917.

4. 

Creative Expression:  An Introduction to Copyright and Related Rights for Small and 

Medium-sized Enterprises.  WIPO publication No. 918. 

All publications available from the WIPO e-bookshop at:  http://www.wipo.int/ebookshop

The adapted versions of the above mentioned publications are available at the

WIPO (WIPO e-bookshop at www.wipo.int/ebookshop).

Disclaimer: The information contained in this guide in not meant as a substitute for profes-

sional legal advice. Its purpose is to provide basic information on the subject matter. This 

publication has been adapted and reproduced with the prior express permission of the World 

Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the copyright owner of the original international 

edition, which is available at www.wipo.int/sme/en/documents/guides/. As such, WIPO is not 

liable or responsible for the accuracy or correctness of the adapted version of the publication, 

as that liability or responsibility rests solely with the Registry of Trademarks, Patents and 

Designs, Federal Ministry of Trade and investment, Nigeria and the project consultants, Law & 

Allied Resourcery.

WIPO owns the copyright in the original international edition (2006).

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, 

electronically or mechanically, except as permitted by law, without written permission from 

Registry of Trademarks, Patents and Designs,

Nigeria (the owner of the copyright).

Registry of Trademarks, Patents and Designs, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments, 

Abuja, Nigeria, Copyright (2011)

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 INTRODUCTION

‘Intellectual Property’ till recently has been considered a luxury by the industry in 

general and SMEs in particular. In fact, it is a major avenue for SMEs to establish 

their credentials at par with the large enterprises. Every business has some valuable 

intangible property worth protecting. Therefore, keeping SMEs abreast of the latest 

information on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) systems and enabling them to 

protect their IP assets is the need of the hour as ignorance may lead to loss of 

valuable rights or expensive litigation or both. This customized version of ‘Creative 

Expression’ will enable SMEs in Nigeria to understand the kind of work protected 

under the provisions of Copyright and related rights, the ownership procedure and 

benefits, system for protection and prevention of violation of these rights in Nigeria 

and abroad. These points are illustrated with the help of mostly original examples 

of the works of Nigerian creators.

The main beneficiaries of this booklet would be SMEs engaged in printing, publishing, 

music and audiovisual creations (film, television and radio), architectural work any 

drawing/map, chart or plan, photography, sculpture, sound recordings, advertising, 

communication  and  marketing,  crafts,  visual  and  performing  arts,  design  and 

fashion, and broadcasting. It also throws light on the effective copyright protection 

extended  to  SMEs  dealing  in  production/development  of  software,  multimedia, 

digital content driven industries including work available on the internet. 

The purpose is to enable SMEs to seize the opportunity of copyright protection 

rather  than  deferring  the  decision  to  adopt  IP  system  on  the  assumption  that 

IP  protection  is  costly  and  time  consuming  or  enforcement  of  the  laws  are 

ineffective. 

In  compilation  of  this  booklet,  efforts  of  the  Law  and  Allied  Resourcery  team 

comprising Ayo Ayeni (Project Coordinator)v, Tinukemi Alabi, Alexandria Adesuwa, 

Yahaya Maikori and  Ese Oraka of Law Allianz, and our registry’s Aisha Y. Salihu, 

have been most commendable.

I  hope  SMEs  will  benefit  from  this  joint  effort  on  the  part  of  World  Intellectual 

Property Organisation (WIPO) and The Registry of Trademarks, Patents and Designs, 

the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments,The Nigerian Copyrights Commission, 

Federal Ministry of Justice, for seeking protection and drawing maximum economic 

gains through the appropriate commercialization of their original creative work.

J.K. Ahmadu-Suka

Registrar, Trademarks, Patents and Designs. 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

1.  Copyright and Neighbouring Rights 

 

 

 

 1

 

2.  Scope and Duration of Protection 

 

 

 

 7

3.  Protecting Your Original Creations  

 

 

 

22

4.  Ownership of Copyright  

 

 

 

 

 

29

5.  Benefiting from Copyright and Neighbouring Rights  33

 

6.   Using Works Owned by Others   

 

 

 

42

 

 

7.  Enforcing Copyright 

 

 

 

 

 

 

49

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