Nigeria’s technology and fintech sectors have grown to become among the most dynamic in Africa. The intellectual property questions they generate are correspondingly complex, and they arrive at pace: a platform raises a Series A, a competitor registers a confusingly similar name, a developer leaves and the ownership of the codebase is suddenly unclear. Getting IP foundations in place before those moments arise, rather than during them, is the work we support.
Copyright in software is the starting point for most technology clients, and it is also where the most common structural problems emerge. Under the Copyright Act 2022, copyright in a work created by an employee in the course of employment vests in the employer. The position is different for contractors and freelancers: absent a clear written assignment, copyright may remain with the individual who wrote the code, not the company that paid for it.
Fintech and technology brands face a particular version of the trademark problem. Products often launch quickly, names are chosen under time pressure, and trademark clearance is deferred. Nigeria operates outside both ARIPO and OAPI. A trademark application filed through either regional system does not extend to Nigeria, and a separate national filing is required for Nigerian protection.
The Nigeria Startup Act 2022 introduced a framework for startup labelling, tax incentives, and regulatory support for innovation-driven businesses. Understanding how IP strategy aligns with those frameworks is increasingly relevant for founders and their advisers.
We advise technology clients on trademark filing and portfolio strategy, copyright in software and digital content, patent prosecution where applicable, IP ownership structuring, IP due diligence in funding rounds and M&A transactions, and licensing agreements for software and platform technology.