₦airaland Forum

A Nigerian man has taken to social media to accuse Paystack of intellectual property theft, claiming the company launched a new payment product using a name that was already legally owned by another brand.

The controversy erupted after Paystack announced the launch of "Zap", a product that many believe bears the exact name of a pre-existing fintech company, Zap Africa.

The man, who appears to be familiar with the fintech space, shared online evidence suggesting that Zap Africa has been operating under this name for years and even holds the trademark rights for "Zap" in the software and technology sector.

"A whole Paystack, with all their resources, couldn't come up with an original name? They had to take one that already belongs to another company? This is corporate plagiarism!" he wrote.

Following the revelation, many Nigerians on social media have criticized Paystack, calling it a blatant case of intellectual property theft.

"This is how big corporations take from smaller businesses and act like nothing happened," one user commented.

Another tweeted, "Zap Africa has existed for YEARS. Paystack, do the right thing and change the name. You can’t just take what isn’t yours."

ogugwa1992:
https://x.com/lasgilandlord/status/1904280197223924032?s=48&t=kVaciWfuqSNYL9pcIRZKNg


https://leaders.ng/2025/03/24/nigerian-man-calls-out-paystack-for-alleged-intellectual-property-theft-this-is-plagiarism/

ogugwa1992:
A Nigerian man has taken to social media to accuse Paystack of intellectual property theft, claiming the company launched a new payment product using a name that was already legally owned by another brand.

The controversy erupted after Paystack announced the launch of "Zap", a product that many believe bears the exact name of a pre-existing fintech company, Zap Africa.

The man, who appears to be familiar with the fintech space, shared online evidence suggesting that Zap Africa has been operating under this name for years and even holds the trademark rights for "Zap" in the software and technology sector.

"A whole Paystack, with all their resources, couldn't come up with an original name? They had to take one that already belongs to another company? This is corporate plagiarism!" he wrote.

Following the revelation, many Nigerians on social media have criticized Paystack, calling it a blatant case of intellectual property theft.

"This is how big corporations take from smaller businesses and act like nothing happened," one user commented.

Another tweeted, "Zap Africa has existed for YEARS. Paystack, do the right thing and change the name. You can’t just take what isn’t yours."
https://x.com/lasgilandlord/status/1904280197223924032?s=48&t=kVaciWfuqSNYL9pcIRZKNg


https://leaders.ng/2025/03/24/nigerian-man-calls-out-paystack-for-alleged-intellectual-property-theft-this-is-plagiarism/

abbey621:
All this na noise, if you have a proper copyright or trademark then file notice of infringement and sue them! Gone are the days of words without action, sue them for billions not only in Nigerian court but anywhere in the world where they do business!

abbey621:
All this na noise, if you have a proper copyright or trademark then file notice of infringement and sue them! Gone are the days of words without action, sue them for billions not only in Nigerian court but anywhere in the world where they do business!

Proudlyngwa:
Why should words be trademarked or patented

Except you are bringing out something new that never existed, a pre existing word or phrase should not be patented,

And day someone will claim flash, Sing, come , take.


Useless zap
Hopeless paystack

Patented:
Pre existing words can be "trademarked" trademark laws across the world allow it. However trademakrs are registered in classes (1-45). Each class has a class heading which describes the nature of goods/services that can be registered in that class (Google Nice classification of trademarks) . However the trade mark must be distinctive of the class i.e. it must not describe the nature and character of the goods or services in that class. For instance I cannot trade mark butterly, in a class that covers butter and dairy goods.

The intellectual property space is quite nuanced and there are rules.

In addition trade marks are territorial by nature. If I register a trade mark in Nigeria it applies to Ngeria only, I cannot extend protection to another country except I register in that country.


However passing off is a remedy U can still explore for protecting unregistered trade marks but you have have to show evidence of recognition in the jurisdiction in question among other things. If the service offered by PayPal is allowed for use in a country where zap is registered, then the owner of zap Africa can potentially use to prevent use in that jurisdiction alone.

Still no guarantees of victory cos there is a lot that will go on in court