NewStats: 3,261,481 , 8,174,124 topics. Date: Thursday, 29 May 2025 at 11:45 AM 1y6d71

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 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/

Nawa ooo. Intellectual theft is now something a lot of these big companies and corporations now engage in Nigeria. Most people are not aware that all these thefts have been subjects of a legal tussle overtime, it's seem people were sleeping earlier, that is why these thieves were conveniently perpetrating this fraud and rubbing it off on their victims. Imagine that of MTN that have a related case in regards to this. As a company owner in Nigeria, protect your brand at all cost, even your name, make sure you have a lawyer. Trademark your name and your brand name if need be. These are very important. Know your right today and make money on leeches.


By the way, anyone who vote for Thiefn00bu in 2027 is a demented corpse.

In the meantime, I'm currently saving resources to sponsor revolution and hired assassins to start eliminating corrupt polithiefcians, civil servants with their enablers in Nigeria. It's a matter of time.

Nigeria needs to do something about the intellectual property law. The industry is gold and creative minds, ideas needs to be protected to ensure originality and innovations thank you. It’s a billion dollar industry, it’s the brain 🧠 Behind our entertainment industries we med work on it.

Wow

Haaa

Time to cash out

hmm

.

Sue them

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 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/

Zap the company to the new zapper.

What next?

Paystack isn't a big company in anyway, when was the last time you heard anything big from them, their site is very dry. The scammer that emptied my 2yrs ago used paystack to lodge the money into his bet nija . When I reach out to them with the help of bank officials to release the identity of the copying Efcc they sounded unserious and never got back.

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!

Seems they didn't have the copyright/trademark duly ed, hence the online noise. If they do, courts will be hearing this complaints, not social media

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!

Exactly. Just noise.

These days it's very difficult to find a name....
I've been trying to name a brand but the names are already online

Most of these big cooperatives and company have a branch of criminal/cult department used to steal from people massively. Especially financial services providers.
They do it directly or indirectly.


CRYPTO CURRENCY APPS ARE FOND OF THIS.

A very typical example is (FRAUD WALLET)
a.k.a (TɌÚST WALLET)

The bastarɗs stole almost a thousand dollars from me last year.
I'm 100% sure It wasn't done by external hackers. It was an internal job.
That's why the app doesn't 2FA authentication... To make it easy for them to steal from you and then blame some unexciting hackers or you for not being careful with your phone, or 12-key phrase...
They have used this tactics to steal from thousands of people. Just go to app reviews to read testimonies.

---

BEFORE YOU AND USE ANY APP ONLINE, MAKE SURE YOU GO TO PLAY STORE OR APPLE STORE TO READ THE RATINGS AND REVIEWS OF THAT APP.

MAKE SURE YOU DON'T READ THE 5-STAR RATINGS!!!

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUE COLOUR OF THAT APP, READ THE 1-STAR RATINGS. THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE TRUTH.

>90% OF THOSE 5-STAR RATINGS ARE FAKE AND SPONSORED BY THE APP DEVELOPERS.


There's high possibility that this post will be taken down.
Such has happened many times in the past when I post about it or call them out.
They have agents all around the world to defend and protect their EVIL activities, even here on naìraland.

But he who have ears....

Go to court and stop seeking for validation on social media, after all this noise, we find out the truth. Social media are group of social mobs. They won't give you justice, the court is not built on emotions but proofs. Natasha rushed to the media, thinking Akpabio will be crucified. Even though he Apbabio is not on my good books but I won't kill a man because someone try to tell me I should do so. Give proofs and stop the Atilogwu dance of shame

Even Zapier uses 'Zap' as a function within the automation software. That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw 'Zap'. Although I don't know if it has copyright or was trademarked.

the question is have you trademarked it with the Nigerian government

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

I don't blame them oo. Even their President is a FRAUD

They don't need to call out Paystack at this time but sue them for trademark infringement and claim huge damages.

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

Pre existing words can be "trademarked" trademark laws across the world allow it. However trademakrs are ed in classes (1-45). Each class has a class heading which describes the nature of goods/services that can be ed 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 a trade mark in Nigeria it applies to Ngeria only, I cannot extend protection to another country except I in that country.


However ing off is a remedy U can still explore for protecting uned 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 ed, 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

Patented:


Pre existing words can be "trademarked" trademark laws across the world allow it. However trademakrs are ed in classes (1-45). Each class has a class heading which describes the nature of goods/services that can be ed 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 a trade mark in Nigeria it applies to Ngeria only, I cannot extend protection to another country except I in that country.


However ing off is a remedy U can still explore for protecting uned 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 ed, 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

Like I said pre existing words should not be patented, only original should be, tomorrow someone will come and patent shine, flash, bright and I won't be able to use it on my line of products, is it fair

Naija and theft be like 1 and 2.

Hmm

If you hold the trademark for "Zap" in the software & technology in Nigeria then file your infringement case and get paid.
But i suspect you were only able to "Zap Africa" if thats the case then Paystack can use Zap.

Ok