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Intellectual Property, Media, Entertainment and Technology Practice
This practice area specialises in providing legal advisory services related to the development, processing, protection, and enforcement of intellectual property rights. We address a variety of briefs and instructions common in the entertainment, media, and sports sectors.
Our services include:
- Protecting the creative rights of artists from an early stage
- Advising on brand protection and licensing
- Handling validity and infringement matters
- Filing trademark applications, including renewals and cancellations
- Reviewing and negotiating contracts for managers, publicists, record labels, film studios, artists, sports professionals, and sports clubs
- Conducting searches at the Trademark Registry
- Addressing tax issues
- Providing legal representation in all dispute resolution forums
- Assisting with domain registration through the National Information Technology Development Agency
- Facilitating the registration, licensing, franchising, and technology transfer agreements
- Registering products with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria
- Offering advice and facilitating prosecution regarding copyright infringement and conducting opposition proceedings
Our extensive professional experience in Dispute Resolution and Commercial Law, combined with a thorough understanding of Nigeria’s entertainment and media industry, enables us to provide timely legal solutions to pressing industry issues.
Major Transactions
- Successfully represented clients on appeal at the Federal High Court whose registration of a Mark at the Trademark Registry was refused by the Registrar of the Trademark Registry.
- Representing a royalty collecting society in actions to enforce their rights against competitors, regulators and others at both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
- Advised a Nigerian Content Provider on its cross – border agency transaction with a US/Europe-based global entertainment corporation.
- Advised a multinational entity on a technology transfer and distribution transaction with a US-based manufacturer.
- Defended a claim against infringement of copyright of a commercial manual used to promote an electronic payment system.
- Handled a case involving the enforcement of intellectual property rights through Anton Pillar orders and claims for accounts of profit, injunction and damages by a multinational building material manufacturer.
- Advised on an international transaction involving exclusive franchise agency and distribution of protected goods in the US, China and Europe.
- Regularly advised several entities in China, Europe and the USA on intellectual property protection, administration and enforcement in Nigeria.
- Routinely advised on registration, licensing, set up, tax and regulatory compliance services in IT, telecommunication, and entertainment concerns.
- Advised on a wide range of sporting and performance contracts between clubs and organisations, including performances, talent development, project sponsorship and management.
- Advised on agency management and promotional arrangements involving artists, sports persons, entertainers and their partners.