Media, Entertainment & Intellectual Property Law

entertainmentlaw@punuka.com; iplawgroup@punuka.com

The practice consists of 2 supervising partners, 2 senior associates and 10 associates, largely based in the Lagos office with team members in the Abuja and Asaba offices

Media & Entertainment

Our deep knowledge of Media and Entertainment business as well as the practices and conventions of the local Industry, enables us to provide practical advice to clients that is in line with global best practices and local law. Our specialised expertise is offered within a full service firm structure which allows us to advise clients in all aspects of their business from setting up their entities to taxation. Additionally, our affiliations with a network of international Law firms through our membership of Lawyers Associated worldwide (LAW) and organisations such as the International Association of Entertainment Lawyers (IAEL) as well as other contacts legal and non legal enable us adequately cover our client’s cross-border business-legal needs.

Our leading and award winning Media and Entertainment practice represents clients in both contentious and non contentious matters in the Film, Music, Media (Digital and Print), Gaming, Leisure and Hospitality industries.

Our clients include foreign and local corporate entities, including;

• Multinational and SME Entertainment businesses
• Record labels
• Management Companies
• Production Companies
• Theatrical Exhibitors
• Distributors
• A-list Artistes and Talents across the spectrum of the Entertainment Industry
• High-Net-Worth Individuals investing in Media and Entertainment
• Government/regulatory authorities in Media and Entertainment Industry.

Our services include but are not limited to;

• Interfacing with regulatory bodies on behalf of clients such as;

• Nigerian Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB)

• Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC)

• Nigerian Communications Commission

• Nigerian Investment Promotion Council

• Provide advisory services for financing and investment in the film, music, Media (Digital & Print) Gaming, Leisure and Hospitality industries.
• Litigation of a wide range of entertainment and media disputes.
• Offer advice on antitrust and regulatory issues that may arise from the entertainment industry related transactions.
• Consult on regulatory matters, develop, draft and advise on regulatory rules and frameworks.
• Defend and prosecute intellectual property rights infringement actions.
• File Trademarks and notifications at the Copyright registry.
• Advise on a wide range of Intellectual Property issues.
• Consult on rights clearance, acquisition and protection issues.
• Tax advisory services to clients in the Media & Entertainment sector.
• Mergers and Acquisitions

Intellectual Property

The Intellectual Property practice delivers timely and practical commercial legal solutions to our clients with respect to their Intellectual Property (IP) needs. We provide legal advice on IP rights in relation to usage, creative works, brand names, licensing and exploitation as well as acquisition and technology transfer. Our brand protection and Anti-counterfeiting practice involves conducting market research and surveillance. We work with the relevant government agencies to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators. We also work with these agencies to evacuate counterfeit products from the market and sanitize the marketplace by creating necessary public awareness awareness of our clients’ products and brands. The IP group litigate the aforementioned legal issues in tribunals and courts (up to the Apex Court) in Nigeria.

Our services include:

• Patent Filing
• Trademark Filing
• Copyright Notification
• Industrial Design Filing
• Brand Protection

Trademark Portfolio Management

• IP Due Diligence / IP Audits
• IP licensing
• Negotiating IP agreements
• Acquisition & disposal of IP rights
• Advising on commercial aspect of
• Intellectual Property Rights.
• Preparing IP Documentation including
• Distributorship Agreements
• Franchise Agreements
• Licensing and cross-licensing
• Agreements Technology transfer agreements

Litigation/ Trademarks Prosecution & Administration

• Filing and administration of Trademarks Opposition portfolios.
• Consulting on potential litigation outcomes of defense or
prosecution of trademark application in Nigeria
• Legal representation at the Trademark Tribunal.
• Brief Writing.
• Conduct research and provide legal opinion to advice on various aspects of Intellectual Property Law.

Trademark Watch Service

• Protection of trademarks from unauthorized and unscrupulous use by third parties.
• Providing watch-service of Trademarks Journal in relation to trademarks.
• Monitoring uses of trademarks in commercial setting, marketing advertising and creative works to ensure consistent, approved compliant use.
• Prosecuting Trademark opposition and preparing all relevant opposition pleadings

Anti-Counterfeiting/Brand Enforcement and Protection