HOW TO DEFEND A TRADEMARK OPPOSITION IN NIGERIA

How to defend a trademark opposition in Nigeria

If you are the owner of a trademark and have applied to have it registered in Nigeria, then you know its value and you have a commercial interest in ensuring your brand is protected.

To respond to or defend a trademark opposition in Nigeria, you must file a Counterstatement within one month of receiving the Notice of Opposition from the Nigerian Trademark Office. Evidence stages will follow, wherein you’ll have an opportunity to provide your own material to dispute the Opponent’s claims.

After the evidence is filed and exchanged, the Nigeria Trademarks Tribunal will make a decision. Appeals from the Trademarks Tribunal lie to the Federal High Court of Nigeria. Appeals from the Federal High Court are made to the Court of Appeal of Nigeria and a final appeal lies with the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

If your trademark registration is opposed, it is highly recommended that you seek professional advice. Our attorneys have in-depth knowledge of the stages of proceedings and can provide guidance to help you determine your options and successfully defend your registration.

Alternatively, if you are opposing a trademark registration in Nigeria then our attorneys can help you reach a successful opposition by correctly preparing and filing evidence.

If you would like to defend a trademark opposition in Nigeria or need assistance overcoming opposition in Nigeria, please contact our attorneys directly, email at admin@aaedlaw.com.