Our expertise includes copyright, media and entertainment portfolio management: Copyright protection, copyright licensing and assignment and copyright litigation.

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COPYRIGHT INFORMATION

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Copyright is the exclusive and assignable legal right given to the originator of literary works, musical works, artistic works, cinematograph works, sound recording and broadcasts for a fixed number of years; to print, publish, perform, film or record literary, artistic or musical material.

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INTERNATIONAL / REGIONAL CONVENTIONS

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1.           Berne Convention

2.           Rome Convention

3.           WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty

4.           Universal Copyright Commission

5.           WIPO Copyright Treaty

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COPYRIGHT NOTIFICATION

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Copyright Notification is a scheme designed by the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) to enable creators of certain copyright works or persons who have acquired rights in these works to give notice of their copyright to the NCC or notice of any transfer of right thereof. Such facts as are disclosed in the notification will form part of the NCC database mandated to be kept under the Copyright Act. This has evidential value of the possible date the work was created and of other facts stated in the notification form. Only a notification of right can be made to the NCC. This is not mandatory.

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How long does copyright last in Nigeria?

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1.           Literary, musical or artistic works other than photographs: 70 years after the end of the year in which the author                   dies. In the case of government or a body corporate, 70 years after the end of the year in which the work was first                 published.

2.           Cinematograph films and photographs: 50 years after the end of the year in which the work was first published.

3.           Sound recordings: 50 years after the end of the year in which the recording was first made.

4.           Broadcasts: 50 years after the end of the year in which the broadcasting first took place.

 

DESIGN INFORMATION

 

Registration is required for Industrial Designs. To register a design in Nigeria, the following information and documents are required:

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1.           A request for registration of the design and the applicant's full name and address. If that address is outside Nigeria,             an address for service in Nigeria.

2.           A specimen of the design or a photographic or graphic representation of the design with any printing block or other             means of reproduction from which the representation was derived. An indication of the kind of product, or where a             classification has been prescribed, the class of product for which the design will be used.

3.           Where appropriate, a declaration signed by the true creator requesting that they be named as such in the Register               and giving their name and address.

4.           If the application is made by an agent, a simply signed Power of Attorney. Legalisation or certification of the                           signature on the Power of Attorney is not necessary.​