EU Flags Nigeria, China, And Others For Intellectual Property Rights Violations

The European Union has placed Nigeria on its priority watch list for intellectual property rights (IPR) violations, naming the country among others where piracy, counterfeiting, and weak enforcement continue to raise serious concerns.

Other countries on the list include China, India, Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand.

This was revealed in a new report released Thursday by the EU’s Trade and Economic Security Commission.

The biennial report, which reviews how intellectual property is protected and enforced in non-EU countries, warned that ongoing violations are taking a major toll on the European economy.

According to the report, European customs seized nearly 17.5 million counterfeit items in 2023—worth around €811 million. Online piracy is also reportedly on the rise.

The EU stressed that industries reliant on intellectual property make up almost half of the bloc’s GDP and contribute over 80% of its exports. These industries are seen as essential for jobs and economic stability.

Among the countries flagged, China remains the EU’s top concern, followed by India and Türkiye. Nigeria falls into the third level of priority, grouped with Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand.

While the EU acknowledged that Nigeria has taken steps to strengthen its IP system—like enacting the Nigeria Customs Service Act and rolling out a national IP policy in 2022—it noted that these efforts have yet to yield meaningful change.

A key issue is the failure to pass the Industrial Property Commission Bill, first proposed in 2016. This bill aimed to update and unify Nigeria’s outdated IP laws and create a dedicated national IP agency. Without it, the EU said, Nigeria’s legal framework remains out of step with international standards like the TRIPS Agreement.

The report also criticised Nigeria’s patent and trademark system, describing it as slow, outdated, and difficult to navigate.

The country still lacks a proper system for protecting Geographical Indications, which are used to certify products with specific regional origins and qualities.

In terms of copyright protection, the report flagged rising online piracy and a lack of clarity in how collective management organisations operate.

While Nigeria has introduced new enforcement tools—such as the Online Copyright Inspectors Unit—the EU said it’s still unclear how effective they’ll be.

Another concern is Nigeria’s role in the spread of counterfeit goods throughout West Africa.

The report claimed the country’s major ports are being used to import fake products, including counterfeit medicines, electronics, and clothing—many of which come from China and are then re-exported to other countries in the region.

The report also pointed to broader challenges, such as limited funding, poor training of enforcement officers, and inadequate infrastructure—especially in the judiciary.

It noted that many courts lack the expertise and technology needed to handle complex intellectual property cases, often leading to inconsistent or ineffective rulings.