Trademark Registration (OAPI)

OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organization) encompasses the majority of African French speaking countries and was created March 2nd, 1977 with the Bangui Agreement with the goal of fostering cooperation between member-states and the sharing of common objectives in Intellectual Property matters. The most distinctive characteristic and advantage of OAPI is that a single registration of IP is automatically effective in all its member-states, without the possibility of designating only some countries. It is not possible to obtain national registrations or renewal in any one-member state.

Member states do not have national Intellectual Property Laws. The Bangui Agreement works as a common Intellectual Property Act, its provisions have the effect of national law in each member-state and no validation or extension is required.

The current members of OAPI are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoros, the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Senegal, and Togo

FILING REQUIREMENTS.

1. Full name, street address and description of the applicant (including trading style, if any, and state/country of incorporation, if incorporated).
2. List of goods and/or services.
3. A simply signed power of attorney.
4. Clear print of device mark.
5. If priority is claimed:  Certified copy of home application/registration.

CLASSIFICATION

1. The 11th Edition of the International Classification (Nice Agreement) is followed.
2. Multiclass – Yes.
3. Goods and service classes must be filed separately to obtain the 3 class fees.