The Firm provides a full range of legal services relating to the protection, exploitation and litigation of intellectual property rights. We help clients to obtain, protect and enforce their trademarks, patents, copyrights and retail rights.
Over the years we have developed a special interest in Intellectual and Industrial Property generally. This arose from the special needs of our Clients which led to our members honing their skills in this sector. The Firm provides a full range of legal services relating to the protection, exploitation and litigation of intellectual property rights. We help Clients to obtain, protect and enforce their trademarks, patents, copyrights and retail rights. Our practice is structured to assist in the whole gamut from simple filings to complex litigation.
In today’s global marketplace, the protection of innovative ideas has become an essential tool for the progress of any commercial enterprise. Our intellectual property practice assists Clients in development, processing, and safeguarding their intellectual property rights. Our Clients benefit from our well established expertise and extensive practice of intellectual property law. We continuously provide our Clients with the best services in various aspects of Intellectual Property plus a customized set of corporate and commercial services essential to national and international intellectual property owners.
We possess extensive experience in the following areas:
Benchmac & Ince gives commercial advice in transactions covering industrial and intellectual property acquisitions, royalties, franchises, licensing and other international trade protection measures. The IP group provides unique services in litigation, opposition of registration and actions for passing-off, protection of mercantile marks and products, seizure and disposal of offending goods, injunctions and actions related to; copyright collecting society and IT protection actions.
We offer an IP watch service which also includes our regular review of the Trade Marks Journal and notifying Clients of the commission of any potential infringements. On Clients’ direction, we also monitor the Nigerian market to ensure that their products are not being counterfeited.
We have an excellent work relationship with Trade Mark, Patent and Design Registry which aids timely and accurate filings and affords protection of Clients’ interest to both local and international businesses in Nigeria. We also handle intellectual property filings in other regions as well as OAPI and ARIPO registrations.
The Firm is a member of the Intellectual Property Lawyers Association of Nigeria (IPLAN), an esteemed pressure group at the forefront of the protection of Intellectual Property proprietary rights in Nigeria and Anti-Counterfeiting Collaboration of Nigeria (ACC) a coalition formed with the aim of bringing brand owners, enforcement agencies and interested parties together, to form an effective ‘opposition group’ against counterfeiters, infringers and pirates in Nigeria. With the rapid increase in the incidence of imitation of goods and other products, piracy and market competition, we anticipate continued growth in this area of practice and we are well-equipped to face the resultant challenges on behalf of our Clients. To this effect we pride ourselves on continuous knowledge enhancement through local & international seminars, trainings and regular interface with the regulatory authorities on means of fast tracking processes within jurisdiction. To ensure we are in tune with best global practices, members of our team engage in continuous trainings and interfacing with colleagues in other jurisdictions. Amongst them are members of the International Trademark Association INTA), the Pharmaceutical Trademark Group (PTMG), the European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA) etc. We take advantage of the relationships created from these vast network in assisting our Clients with advisory support in other jurisdictions where they have business interest
Our IP Practice comprise units which are constituted to enable us provide effective and efficient services to our Clients.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
- Intellectual Property Lawyers Association (IPLAN)
- Anti-counterfeiting Coalition (ACC)
- International Trademarks Association (INTA)
- European Communities Trademarks Association (ECTA)