By Kassim Omomia
The House of Representatives has begun moves to give legal protection to the invention such as patents, utility models and designs made by Nigerians in the country.

To rationalise the proposal, the lawmakers are in the process of repealing the Patents and Design Act CAP P2 LFN, 2004 and enact a new law, the Patent and Designs Act 2019.

Sponsor of the Bill, Honorable Oluga Taiwo, member representing Ayedaade/ Irewole/ Isokan Federal Constituency of Osun state, stated during debate of the general principles of the Bill, that the new law seeks to give legal cover to inventions such as Patents, utility models and designs.

Under the Bill, Patent means the title granted to protect an invention, while invention accordingly is an idea of an Inventor which permits in practice the solution to a specific problem in the field of technology.

“An Invention may be or may not relate to a product or a process”, the Bill indicated.

Port health officials back at Seme border departure hall

Matters excluded from patent inventions, even if they are inventions within the meaning of section 1, of the bill, are excluded from patent protection.

They include discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods.

Other striking features of the Bill are clauses for offences against the proposed law and penalty, as well as regulation, Honorobale Taiwo further stated.

According to the Bill, ‘’Subject to section 11(4), 13 and 14, a person who knowingly performs any of the acts referred to in Section 11(2) in the Country without the consent of the owner, commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or imprisonment of a term not exceeding two (2) years.

In regulating the sector, the Minister of Industry Trade and Investment may make regulations for the effective implementation of the Act and such regulations shall be subject to the approval of the National Assembly vide the approval of the relevant Joint Relevant Committees of both Houses of the National Assembly.