OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organisation)

Background:

A central office for filing for patent and trade mark protection (etc.) in former French colonies in Africa was first formed under the Libreville agreement in 1962. The office was then called the “Office Africain et Malgache de la Propriété Industrielle” (OAMPI). A new accord named the Bangui Agreement was adopted in 1977 and the Office changed its name to “Organization Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle” (OAPI). By a further accord, made (also at Bangui, Central African Republic) with effect from 28 February 2002, a revised version of the Bangui Agreement was adopted, and is deemed, with its Annexes 1 - 10, to be the national law of each member State concerning patents, utility models, trade marks, industrial designs, business names, geographical indications, copyright, protection against unfair competition, layout (designs) of integrated circuits and plant variety protection.

Membership:

Currently, the member States of OAPI are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

A single application automatically covers all member states and it is not possible to designate the countries of interest.

Trademarks: Yes. Service and Collective marks

Registered Designs: Yes

Utility Models: Yes

Plant Breeders' Rights: Yes

For more information on OAPI trademarks please visit the main Spoor & Fisher website