Patents and Designs Act, 1970
The Patents and Designs Act governs the registration and protection of inventions and industrial designs in Nigeria. Enacted in 1970, it provides the framework for the grant of patents for new inventions and the registration of new designs. The Act defines the requirements for patentability, the duration of protection, and the rights conferred by patents.
Legal area: Law relating to the protection of creative works, inventions, designs, and trademarks.
Year enacted: 1970
Full text: https://lawsofnigeria.placng.org/laws/patents-and-designs-act.html
Key Provisions
- Part II: Patentable inventions and the requirements of novelty and inventive step
- Part III: Application and grant of patents
- Part IV: Duration and renewal of patents
- Part V: Rights conferred by patents and remedies for infringement
- Part VI: Registration and protection of industrial designs
- Section 1: Patentable inventions must be new, involve inventive step, and be industrially applicable
Significance
The Patents and Designs Act provides Nigeria’s framework for protecting industrial innovation. Administered by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, it is important for technology transfer and innovation in Nigeria.