Our team has significant experience with corporate and transactional IP, including experience acting as IP counsel for businesses on a number of sizeable commercial transactions as well as working for businesses in employment or independent contractor relationships and working with professional authors, musicians and artists in the negotiation of royalties and sale of works in employment or independent contractor relationships.

IP Assignments and Licences in Nigeria

Our IP Lawyers in Nigeria prepare and file assignments of intellectual property rights and waivers of moral rights for businesses to use with their employees or contractors in Nigeria. Where intellectual property has already been created by employees, contractors, or in other circumstances, without any agreement, we can determine who owns the IP and, if needed, draft suitable documentation for transferring the intellectual property rights to the company.

If there is an existing written or oral agreement in place, we can advise on the adequacy of protection provided by such agreement and, if appropriate, recommend supplementary documentation or remedial action to address any defects.

We also draft assignments and licences for all types of intellectual property rights as part of commercial transactions such as purchases or sales whether between independent parties or related companies.

Joint Ownership Agreements

Where intellectual property is created jointly, we can prepare joint ownership agreements to set out the respective rights and obligations of the parties.

Non-Disclosure Agreements

We can provide confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements for all types of circumstances, including disclosing confidential technical information such as an unpublished patent application in preliminary discussions as to whether to enter into a business arrangement with another party such as a service provider or investor.

IP/IT Agreements in Nigeria

Companies and individuals operating their business online should take steps to minimize legal exposure. Whether providing e-commerce services in Nigeria, preparing to launch a website for Nigerian consumers, developing a mobile app, or offering online advertising services to target Nigerian users, we can draft agreements to help protect you and ensure that your business is compliant with Nigerian law.

Every Internet-based business model is unique. We draft tailored terms and conditions which take into account the particular risks faced by your business, reflect your business’s goals, and cater to your desired user experience. Where collecting personal identifiable information is a part of your business model, we prepare privacy policies compliant with Nigerian data protection laws.

Advertising and marketing practices in Nigeria are increasingly moving online, and the industry has shifted to offer merchants increasingly complex marketing opportunities. We work with our clients to define these relationships in direct advertising agreements and affiliate marketing agreements.

Agreements for Authors, Artists, and Content Creators in Nigeria

Like in all other industries, contracts for authors, artists, and content creators help create certainty and clarity. In creative industry contracts are especially important for identifying and allocating intellectual property rights.

If you are a writer, musician artist, designer, entertainer, content creators, or photographer entering into business with another party or providing a service we can help you protect your works and allocate rights by reviewing or preparing agreements including, for example: publishing agreements, photography agreements, consignment agreements, contributor agreements, model release agreements and fashion modeling contracts. Where necessary we draft thorough assignments of copyright and waivers of moral rights for creators and authors.

IP Due Diligence in Nigeria

If you are involved in a commercial transaction, our IP Lawyers in Nigeria can provide due diligence in Nigeria on the owned and licensed intellectual property assets of the acquisition target. Alternatively, we can act for the target in identifying and preparing the pertinent details of its owned and licensed intellectual property for the potential acquirer.

IP Audit in Nigeria

In preparation for an acquisition, we can provide an IP audit to create an inventory of your intellectual property and make recommendations on further steps to enhance its value and to address risks. An audit will address whether you own certain IP, whether you have sufficient rights to use the IP that you do not own, and whether adequate steps are being taken to protect the IP created by your employees or independent contractors. Audits are a useful diagnostic tool that allow you to proactively address potential risks and enhance business value on your own schedule.