Introduction : Nigerian IP experience : Past and present

More than a century after the advent of intellectual property (IP) laws in Nigeria, IP has emerged from a relatively obscure subject matter into a notable field of law that has generated considerable debates across scholarship, policy and practice spheres. Yet it is ironic for an increasingly dynamic legal field like IP to hold such an unenviable pedigree of one of the least revised or improved pieces of legislation in the gazettes of Nigerian law. While the pioneer set of IP laws, comprising trademark, patent and copyright acts, were reputed to have served imperial interests, subsequent replacements, with the emergence of local industry, did not make much impact in the legal and commercial environment. That trend neither has significantly changed nor has come into full circle. In recent years, the growing significance of IP has been a subject of study in its doctrinal, empirical and interdisciplinary contexts, affirming that IP has truly emerged not only as a major currency of the digital age but also as indispensable to national development in our country and region. Policymakers, legal industry, academics, development experts and the public have risen to narratives of the strategic role of IP in emergent digital economy, and accompanying consensus on IP reform has resonated across board. This book reinforces that narrative and brings together contributions from Nigerian IP scholars who understand the nuances of the subject and application of its principles in national contexts. The array of authors in a single volume is provided by the idea to produce a collection of essays in honor of Professor Adebambo Adewopo, who is one of the fathers of IP teaching and scholarship and has contributed to the development of IP law and policy in Nigeria.