Nigeria: Licensing & Syndication

The Nigerian Copyright Commission has issued a stern warning to DJs about unauthorized music use, but a critical question emerges: what happens when music plays in supermarkets, gyms, airports, and hotels where no DJ is present? This analysis examines why Nigeria's copyright enforcement framework must extend beyond nightclub performances to capture the vast commercial music usage occurring daily across retail, hospitality, and public venues that currently operate in a regulatory blind spot.

This article examines whether Nigerian law recognises post-mortem publicity rights, exploring the legal framework around commercial exploitation of deceased persons' identities. It analyses existing protections under privacy, copyright, trademark and passing off laws, compares international approaches, and argues for statutory recognition of post-mortem publicity rights in Nigeria.

Trademark registration in Nigeria involves multiple stages including preliminary searches, filing, examination, publication, and opposition periods. Understanding the timeline and factors that can affect the registration process is essential for businesses, entrepreneurs, and foreign investors seeking to protect their brand assets in the Nigerian market.

The digital revolution has transformed the global film and creative industry by changing the way films and audiovisual content are produced, distributed, and consumed. Streaming platforms, social media applications, and digital marketplaces now allow creators to distribute content instantly to audiences across the world.

Intellectual property licensing plays a crucial role in the entertainment industry, governing how creative works are used, distributed, and monetized across various platforms and territories. This publication examines the legal frameworks, contractual considerations, and best practices for licensing IP rights in entertainment contexts. Understanding these licensing mechanisms is essential for content creators, distributors, and rights holders navigating the complex landscape of entertainment law.

In the current global digital economy, businesses enjoy significant competitive advantage from intangible assets such as intellectual property, confidential data and proprietary processes.

For copyright to subsist in a work under the Nigerian Copyright Act Cap. C28 Laws of the Federation 2004 (the "Act"), it must come under the six categories of eligible works provided in Section 1...

In our previous newsletter, we analyzed the Central Bank of Nigeria ("CBN") categorization of the Fintech licenses into four categories based on CBN circular dated December 9, 2020...

With the largest economy and population in Africa, Nigeria has seen a rise in the number of successful start-ups, particularly in Lagos State which has been described as Africa's Silicon Valley.