OAPI
Patents, Trade Marks & Designs
OAPI is a regional filing system which covers Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. A single application automatically covers all countries mentioned above. It is not possible to designate the countries of interest.
OAPI Trade Marks
Types of Trade Marks:
- Goods and services
- Certification marks
Filing Requirements:
- Simply signed Power of Attorney
- Details of the Applicant (full names, physical address, nationality/country of incorporation)
- Representation of the trade mark(s)
- List of goods and/or services
- Certified copy of priority document (if applicable)
Classification:
The Nice Classification of Goods and Services is followed.
DURATION/RENEWALS:
10 years from filing date and renewable every 10 years.
International and Regional Systems:
- Paris Convention
- Madrid Protocol
OAPI Patents
Filing Requirements:
Non-PCT applications:
- Simply signed Power of Attorney (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
- Specification, claims, drawings and abstract with English or French translation (required upon filing)
- Deed of assignment (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
- Certified copy of the priority document (if applicable) with verified English or French translation (must be filed within 6 months of the filing date)
PCT applications:
- Simply signed Power of Attorney (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
- Specification, claims, drawings and abstract with English or French translation (required upon filing)
- Deed of assignment (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
- Published International application (required upon filing)
- International Search Report and International Preliminary Report on Patentability (can be late filed)
Novelty:
Absolute novelty required.
Patentability:
Methods of medical diagnosis, treatment or surgery are not patentable.
Examination:
Formal examination.
Duration/Renewals:
The patent has a duration of 20 years from date of filing. Annual renewal fees are payable from the first anniversary of the filing date.
International and Regional Systems:
- Paris Convention
- PCT
OAPI Designs
Filing Requirements:
- Power of Attorney (can be late filed)
- Drawings, photographs or other graphic representations of the design (required upon filing)
- A statement indicating the kind of products for which the design is to be used (required upon filing)
- Certified copy of priority document (if applicable) (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
- Verified translation of the priority document if not filed in English or French (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
- Deed of assignment (must be filed within 3 months of the filing date)
Duration/Renewals:
The design has an initial term of 5 years from date of filing, with a possible extension of 2 further term of 5 years.
International and Regional Systems:
- Paris Convention
- The Hague Agreement
OAPI Members – TRADE MARKS
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
OAPI Members – PATENTS
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.