1. COMBATING INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY CRIME IN
NIGERIA: The Need For
Multilateral Partnership Against
A Common Threat
Presented by
Dr. Godwin Okonkwo
Brand Protection Specialist
ANTI-COUNTERFEITING & PIRACY INITIATIVE (ACAPI)
dr.godwin@acapiafrica.org.ng
Paper presented to the 9th INTERPOL IP Crime Training Seminar, Best Western Hotel,
Ikeja, Lagos. June 22, 2011

2. The facts:
 IP Crime Activities Fund Organised Crime
 IP Crime Activities Are Everywhere
 IP Crime Activities Are Immoral
 IP Crime Activities Infringe on The Laws Of Nigeria
 IP Crime Activities affect Public Health & Safety
 IP Criminals Are Dangerous

3. Introduction
Intellectual property crime activities such as
counterfeiting, piracy, knock-offs, product diversion,
grey market/parallel imports, relabeling, cloning etc
ultimately hurt the economy. While FAKERS
illegally enrich themselves, they impoverish our
country and fellow citizens as their actions lead to
mass unemployment, widespread poverty and loss of
revenue for right holders, genuine manufacturers and
government.

4. The nature and extent of IP infringements in Nigeria is
such that local law enforcement are
overwhelmed, civil litigation options are too
slow, therefore, IP criminals and their agents easily
get away with these crimes with little or no
resistance. The criminals are constantly evolving new
and advanced techniques to evade law enforcement
and constantly maintain alliances that are
increasingly transnational in nature. In the
past, infringers where said to operate at small scales
and for a limited time. Today, we know that IP
criminals invest huge funds to perfect their dastardly
acts and are also able to operate undetected mainly in
new an emerging markets such as in Africa.

5. The Same Old Story
 Lack of Training
 Lack of Adequate Funding
 Lack of Human Resources
 Lack of Communication
 Lack of Integrity
 Issues of Jurisdiction
 The China factor
 etc

6. Cooperation & Collaboration
INTERPOL, the WCO AND WIPO are the key
international intergovernmental organisations involved in
the fight against intellectual property crimes and together
with global business organisations, such as the ICC-
BASCAP, agree on the principle that business and
government must work together to achieve more
effective protection of intellectual property. In Nigeria,
you will agree that more work can and should be done to
improve cooperation and coordination among and
between government authorities and the private sector.
The rational being that expanding and promoting
understanding of IP crime related activities, information-
sharing and cooperation between INTERPOL, other
enforcement agencies and the private sector will
effectively facilitate combating IPR crimes.

7. Working together, we can win the fight against IPR
Crime
 Policy Advocacy- Private sector
 Public Enlightenment- Government
 Technology Apps- Government & Private sector
 Information Sharing- Private sector
 Financial Support- Government & Private sector
 Training- Government

8. Conclusion
IPR crimes will continue to undermine innovation and
economic empowerment unless we take action, take
responsibility and get involved in the fight. We need
popular will to drive the political will towards
combating this menace and if we hope to achieve any
lasting success, we all need to put aside our
differences and diversities and see IPR crimes as it
really is, A Common Threat!
Thank you for your time and God bless us all,
Everyone.