THE NIGERIAN PATENT LAW AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Abstract

Law is an integral and dynamic part of every society for it protects the rights of individuals, promote tangible progress and undeniably maintain order. The law on Patent in Nigeria is one area of law that seeks to provide the legal framework for the development of invention, its registration, ownership, operation and protection of a patent. This consists of the intellectual property rights in that newly created invention, or materially improved upon in clear distinctive ways better than what it used to be
before. For every inventor seeks to reap the dividends of his invention, and where such invention is unlawfully infringed upon and used without the express permission of the inventor, dispute is bound to occur. Therefore, the settlement of this dispute is such that needs to go through the channels of justice. In Nigeria, for instance, litigants would primarily resort to approaching the law courts for settlement of their disputes, even though there is an option of alternative dispute resolution. This article seeks to
provide reasons why the alternative dispute resolution should be employed by aggrieved individuals and bodies for the adjudication of matters arising from patent rights and infringement in Nigeria. The need to adopt ADR will further enhance and maintain good economic relationships amongst individuals, business partners and firms which in turn will boost the economic atmosphere in Nigeria.