Africa Intellectual Property

Trademarks 

We offer comprehensive trademark services across Africa, including African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) and the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) jurisdictions.. Our expertise  spans:

• Trademark searches and filings

• Prosecution and office action responses

• Renewal management

• Opposition, cancellation, and enforcement handling

• Portfolio audits and strategic filing guidance

• Trademark watch services for continent-wide brand protection

Copyright 

Our copyright practice supports creators, content owners, and businesses in securing and enforcing rights across various works, including literary, artistic, musical, audiovisual, and digital content. Services include:

• Copyright registrations

• Drafting and negotiating licensing and assignment agreements

• Rights clearance for media, advertising, and content distribution

• Representation in infringement claims

• Framework design for managing ownership and royalties in collaborative projects

Patents 

We guide clients through the patent process from concept to protection, offering comprehensive services including:

• Patentability assessments

• Drafting and filing patent applications (national and regional)

• Prosecution management

• Renewal handling

• Licensing and commercialization strategy advice

• Freedom-to-operate analyses

• Infringement risk assessments

• Patent due diligence for transactions

Industrial Designs 

We help clients protect the visual and aesthetic aspects of products, from consumer goods to packaging and fashion, through:

• Design registrations

• Renewal management

• Enforcement actions

• Strategic filing advice for product launches and market entry

• Infringement dispute resolution

 Our expertise supports clients in safeguarding their design assets across Africa.

Geographical Indications (GIs) 

We provide legal and regulatory support for protecting geographical indications, offering expertise in:

• Qualification and registration procedures

• Enforcement strategies across African markets

• Collaborating with agricultural cooperatives, food producers, craft industries, and government agencies

Our services help secure GI protection, supporting origin-linked branding, rural development, and export competitiveness. 

Trade Secrets and Confidential Information 

We help clients protect  trade secrets and confidential business information through:

• Drafting non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements

• Advising on internal policies and access protocols

• Supporting legal action in case of misappropriation or breach.

Our expertise establishes robust frameworks for safeguarding sensitive information

Certification Marks and Collective Marks 

We support organisations, cooperatives, and industry bodies in developing and registering certification and collective marks across Africa, offering expertise in:

• Registrability advice

• Regulatory compliance

• Use guidelines

• Enforcement strategies

Our services promote quality standards, regional origin, and collective reputation in the marketplace.

Africa Intellectual Property 

• World-Wide IP Registration for NIPRID:  We managed global trademark registrations for pharmaceutical innovations developed by a Nigerian research institute, securing protection for brands like  NIPRISAN and NICOSAN internationally. 

• Portfolio Management for Several Multinational Banks:  We managed trademark portfolios and filings across African states for several global financial institutions. 

• Trademark Portfolio Management for FMCG: We oversaw comprehensive portfolio management, filings, renewals, and strategy for a leading FMCG company active across Africa. 

• Continent-Wide Trademark Registration: We handled trademark filings across Africa for one of South Africa’s largest asset management firms.