The year 2026 promises to be an interesting one and it indeed began with an unexpected legal lesson – served not in courtroom, but on social media.
Barely weeks in, social media was already on fire over the use of the name ‘Ratel’- and beneath the noise was a serious legal issue many entrepreneurs don’t understand: business names are not trademarks.
On or around January 19, 2026, Entrepreneur Blord took to social media to announce that he had trademarked the name “Ratel” and directed his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to issue a cease-and-desist letter to online personality VeryDarkMan (VDM), insisting he stop using the name.
In response, VDM released what he says is evidence he trademarked Ratel, The Ratel, and The Ratel Gang since September 2024 - predating Blord’s claim, sending social media into a frenzy of arguments, opinions, and legal interpretations.
The Ratel social media brouhaha might have started as online banter, but it’s a real-world cautionary tale.
For entrepreneurs in Nigeria - particularly those building online followings and digital products - trademarks are now as important as the business names you choose. Without them, even a widely recognised brand can find itself in a legal tug-of-war — just like Ratel.
Registering a business name is just the first step.
Protecting your brand through trademark registration is the one that turns a name into a legally enforceable asset.
Barely weeks in, social media was already on fire over the use of the name ‘Ratel’- and beneath the noise was a serious legal issue many entrepreneurs don’t understand: business names are not trademarks.
On or around January 19, 2026, Entrepreneur Blord took to social media to announce that he had trademarked the name “Ratel” and directed his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) to issue a cease-and-desist letter to online personality VeryDarkMan (VDM), insisting he stop using the name.
In response, VDM released what he says is evidence he trademarked Ratel, The Ratel, and The Ratel Gang since September 2024 - predating Blord’s claim, sending social media into a frenzy of arguments, opinions, and legal interpretations.
The Ratel social media brouhaha might have started as online banter, but it’s a real-world cautionary tale.
For entrepreneurs in Nigeria - particularly those building online followings and digital products - trademarks are now as important as the business names you choose. Without them, even a widely recognised brand can find itself in a legal tug-of-war — just like Ratel.
Registering a business name is just the first step.
Protecting your brand through trademark registration is the one that turns a name into a legally enforceable asset.
