MAN calls for trademarks protection

To curb perennial cases of cloning of made-in-Nigeria products across the West African border, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG) has called for protection of trademarks so as to ensure that investments are secured.

In trade economics, cloning refers to production of multiple copies of a product. By implication, a product whose trademark belongs to another manufacturer is constantly being produced and sold cheaper than the original price across the West African border. While perpetrators of this shoddy practice are gainers, real owners of the trademarks become losers, say analysts.

“Trademarks and brand names should be made trans-national and be fully recognised by nations in the ECOWAS sub-region to help fight against counterfeiting,” said Tunde Oyelola, group chairman, MANEG, in an e-mail to BusinessDay.

He believes that manufacturers are already losing export markets to these counterfeiters, suggesting that national and regional governments should protect real owners of trademarks and brand names to ensure that their investments are intact.

Oyelola adds that it is high time the Federal Government (FG) gave locally-made products, rather than cash, to countries that need aid and assistance from Nigeria, stating that this has become necessary because it is already being implemented by many developed countries.

“This will create awareness for local products and services in those countries, strengthen the business relationship between Nigeria and the countries,” he adds.