DO YOU HAVE ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

just reflecting on my intellectual property class! hmm still wondering why most of my class mates would prefer MARINE INSURANCE to intellectual property, Gush what do i need Marine Insurance or Islamic Law of Succession for . As for me, its intellectual property . now back to the class, the lecturer goes on talking about the meaning of intellectual property, its all about an individual's idea and protecting his/her excluive rights to that idea. intellectual property is like real property( land, cars, houses, stocks, shares, bonds etc), its one area that has not been properly explored in this part of the world, though we have laws like, Copy right Act, Patents &Design Act, Trade Marks ACt, a lot of people have lost millions due to infringement of thier copyright here in Nigeria.

The lecturer looks at us and ask., i know that almost all of you here have cars, land and houses, but how many of you here HAVE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY? before any of us could respond , he gave an answer@ i guess none of you here has intellectual property, and none of you here has spent less than 15 years acquiring some form of education. intellectual property would not cost u money to acquire, just your effort, talent and inspiration from God, look at Steve Jobs,Apple, Facebook etc

I raised up my hand to oppose the lecturer, another person also raised up his hand, but i spoke first,
'please sir, i have intellectual property'
'what have you done'
'i have written and published a book, i have published articles, i have 2 un published books'

The other student equally informs the class that he has a Collection of peoms, he did not mention if  they are published or not.

the lecturer was impressed, but he lashed out on my other classmates, in a class of about twenty students only 2 people here have intellectual property, thats very bad, then he asked why is this so. the class is quite, as usual i raise my hand up again, please read my response carefully;

 WRITERS DO NOT MAKE MONEY HERE IN NIGERIA BECAUSE OF PIRACY, IT APPLIES TO OUR ARTIST, RECENTLY WHIZ KID A POPULAR NIGERIAN ARTIST CRIED OUT ON THIS SAME ISSUE, HE HAS NOT RELEASED HIS AUDIO CD, YET HIS AUDIO CD IS AVAILABLE EVERYWHERE WHO IS MAKING THE MONEY? i went ahead to inform the class that people no longer read, and if they must buy story books, they go for the cheapest ones in the market.
contributions began to flow in as the lecturer was amazed , for example most of us were hearing for the first time from others that our Artist( musicians) actually encourage the pirates to sell thier works. that by selling their songs they become more popular, and thereafter stand the chance of getting contract with GLO, MTN, SAMSUNG, etc, secondly they get to be invited for shows, were they actually make their money. SO SO SAD, SO SAD MY HEART IS BLEEDING! IS THIS THE MENTALITY OF THE AVERAGE NIGERIAN ARTIST!

we also talked about Chinua Achebe, and the offer he rejected fron 50 cents, when the American Artist offered him 50 million dollars to use the name THINGS FALL APART, in acting a movie. Chinua Achebe rejected the offer on moral grounds. i told the class that it was cazy, and the lecturer equally concurred to. He said intellectual property is like real property, you sell a bit or all of it, this must be reduced into writing, he also said that the sale of the title would have created more money for Chinua Achebe as it would have boost the sales of his book. we all agreed that our writer did not have a lawyer to advice him properly. 

Trademark is another area that should not be taken for granted, once you have a mark or a phrase, that you feel is peculiar to you, its important that you get it registered. brands like 'CLOSE UP' 'LG' 'SAMSUNG'
'UBA' etc are examples of trade marks.

please note that once you have an idea reduce it into writing, then protect it, if you share your idea with someone or a friend , and that person goes ahead to implement it before you, may be even registers it before you, then that person would have right over you. i hope u get the gist.

 now back to the question of the day: DO you have intellectual property? if you do, have you protected it?

please dont copy my work, instead create your own!

cheers!