LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR PROTECTION OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Industrial designs are features incorporated  into  mass  produced  products  that  aim  to  enhance their attractiveness  by  their  appearance.  The law protects novel designs for the benefit of the ingenious creator. The Nigerian economy which is still developing acknowledges the potential for industrial designs. The country embarked on an economic transformation agenda styled Vision 20:2020 put in place 21 years ago as an industrialization strategy that has obviously not been impactful. Despite this and other pitfalls in industry, the Nigerian creator has trudged on in producing brands that are unique and in demand internationally. However, adequate legislation is as much needed for technological advancement as introduction of ground-breaking machinery or epoch-making products.  The drive for rapid industrialization of Nigeria is paramount to break the dominance of oil exploration and exportation as major source of national revenue. The nation has a wealth of enterprising and innovative creators of industrially replicated products with the potential of being an industrial power where these talents are harnessed. This discourse made a brief tracing of the history of industrial designs; an analysis of the legal regime in Nigeria for industrial designs; the challenges to proper protection of industrial designs and makes recommendations for improvement of the current situation including upgrade of national security, human capital development, tax holidays for creative minds and the promotion or celebration of artisanal activities.