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Davidson is an expert in the protection of IP rights and trademarks and explains to listeners some of the idiosyncrasies of protecting intellectual property in the West African region.

For instance, he says, even big brands like Apple and Microsoft could run into trouble if their brands are not registered in Nigeria. Someone passing off the brand as their own might get away with it unless the legitimate brand owner could convince a court otherwise.

He explains that the Madrid Protocol, that enables trademarks to be registered in jurisdictions across the world, does not cover Nigeria. This means that companies wanting to come into the Nigerian market need to work with local law firms to ensure their intellectual capital is protected.

Davidson is a member of the Africa Global Advisory Council of the International Trademark Association and also a member of the Steering Committee of the Labour & Employment Law Group of the International Section of the American Bar Association.

In the time he has worked in the field he says there has been growing appreciation of trademarks and the importance of protecting innovation.

In the podcast he talks about how technology is filling gaps even in the provision of legal services in West Africa and that Covid-19 has levelled the playing fields in law pushing everyone onto the internet.

To listen to this insightful conversation with one of Nigeria’s top commercial law minds go to SoundCloud or Spotify

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