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THE ROLE OF THE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWYER IN THE 21ST CENTURY

BY

CHINASA UWANNA

IP CONSULTANT, TSEDAQAH ATTORNEYS

C.UWANNA@TA-NG.COM; +234 806 427 1100

WWW.TA-NG.COM

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OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

  • Objective of Presentation.
  • Definition of Intellectual Property.
  • Types of Intellectual Property Rights.
  • Who is an Intellectual Property Lawyer?
  • The Role of an Intellectual Property Lawyer.
  • Recap/ Q&A

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OBJECTIVE OF PRESENTATION

Objective

  • To help you understand the important role of an Intellectual Property Rights Lawyer in the 21st Century.

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DEFINITION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce…

Inventions in all fields of human endeavor and all other rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, literary or artistic fields.

- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)

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TYPES OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

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Copyright

Patents

Trademarks

Industrial Designs

Trade Secrets

Geographical Indicators

Integrated Circuits

Artificial Intelligence

Domain Names

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WHO IS AN IP LAWYER?

  • A lawyer who works in the field of Intellectual Property: Law Firm, In-house, Research Institute, Government etc.
  • Key Skills:
    • Technical Knowledge
    • Analytical reasoning
    • Good drafting skills
    • Attention to details/ timelines
    • Strong Communication skills
    • Negotiation skills
    • Organization

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THE ROLE OF AN IP LAWYER

Legal Advisory

IP Registration and Maintenance (Brand Management)

Preparation and/or review of IP Agreements

Watch Services and Enforcement

Negotiations and Dispute Resolution/ Infringement actions

Commercial IP Transactions

Technology Transfer (NOTAP Registration etc.)

Product Registration – SON and NAFDAC

Anti-Counterfeiting/ Anti-Piracy

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RECAP/ CONCLUSION

One of the great things about IP Law is how varied it is. When I was a full-time IP Lawyer, I could spend a morning trying to help a winery protect its brand in Europe, and then the afternoon helping an artist respond to a cease and desist letter from a brand owner trying to censor that artist’s work.”

  • Peter Karol, Professor of Law and Director of the Intellectual Property Law Certificate at New England Law | Boston

The role of the IP lawyer today cannot be overemphasized!

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Contact: Chinasa Uwanna

c.uwanna@ta-ng.com

cuwanna@gmail.com

+234 806 427 1100

+1 506 566 3909