An urgent meeting was held at the Patents and Designs Registry on March 9, 2023 between the Chief Registrar, Officials of the Registry and Nigerian Agents to discuss certain aspects of filing processes within the Registry which have been reviewed.

URGENT MEETING HELD AT THE PATENTS AND DESIGNS REGISTRY

At the beginning of March 2023, Nigerian agents received a notification from the Patents and Designs Registry indicating that there will be an urgent meeting on March 9, 2023 between the Chief Registrar, Officials of the Registry and Nigerian Agents to discuss certain aspects of filing processes within the Registry which have been reviewed.

At that meeting the Honourable Registrar issued the following directives:

• The Registry has continually engaged online consultants to assist in migrating applications to the new online filing platform from the old filing platform.
• The Registry is also liaising with the online consultants to create a distinction in the numbering system of filed applications between applications filed by foreign applicants versus Nigerian applicants. Foreign-owned applications will be indicated by an “F” in the number, whilst “NG” will be used for local-owned applicants, on the new online filing platform.
• The above distinction will be used to differentiate between payments due for foreign-owned applications which will differ from payments due for local-owned applications. The Hon. Registrar also noted that non-compliance with this directive will result in a query being raised against an application.
• That further directives will be issued and communicated to Nigerian Agents in due course.

It will be interesting to see what further developments transpire as the applications move to the new online filing system and make sure to come back to check on any further directives issued in time.

Source: Email received from Menzi from Aluko Oyebode