OAPI
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Togo.
CLASSIFICATION
11th edition – multiclass application
SEARCH
Possible for word and device marks
EXAMINATION
On formal, absolute, and relative grounds
OPPOSITION
6 months from publication date
PROTECTION TERM
10 years from filing date and renewable for like periods
USE
Vulnerable to cancellation if mark has not been used for 5 years from filingNot possible for filing oppositions, counter oppositions, and responding to office actions
Filing Requirements
Filing Requirements
- Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified
What you need to know
- POA must be submitted at the time of filing
- Priority document may be submitted within 3 months from filing date
Filing Requirements
- Simple copy of latest certificate of registration
Filing Requirements
- Certificate of change of name/address, notarized with verified English or French translation
- Simple copy of latest certificate of registration
Filing Requirements
What you need to know
- Trademarks may be assigned with or without the goodwill of the business concerned
Filing Requirements
- Certificate of merger, legalized with verified English or French translation
Filing Requirements
- License agreement, notarized with French translation
What you need to know
- License recordal is not compulsory but advisable in order to be effective against third parties
EQUIVALENT SEARCH
Granted and published inventions in the Official Gazette to be searched by title, subject matter, applicant and priority/ PCT number
EXAMINATION
As to form and utility of invention
PUBLICATION
Applications are not published prior to 18 months from the filing date or the earliest priority
OPPOSITION
No provisions
ANNUITIES
Due annually on the anniversary of the international filing date. 6 months grace period for late payment with a surcharge
PROTECTION TERM
20 years from international filing dateFiling Requirements
Filing Requirements
- Specification and abstract in English or French in triplicate; 3 sets of formal drawings
- Copy of priority document, if priority is claimed, certified
- Original or certified copy of deed of assignment
What you need to know
- Copy of POA must be submitted at the time of filing; original POA may be submitted within 3 months from filing date
- Priority document may be submitted within 3 months from filing date
Filing Requirements
- Certificate of change of name/address, certified
Filing Requirements
- Deed of assignment, certified
Filing Requirements
- Certificate of merger, certified
Filing Requirements
- License agreement, certified
NO STATUTORY LAWS
No statutory laws on designs are in force in OAPI
| Title | SERVICE | TYPE | LAST UPDATED | DOWNLOAD PDF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OAPI Deed of Assignment for Trademarks | Trademark | DOA | May 6, 2015 | download |
| OAPI Power of Attorney for Patents | Patent | POA | May 6, 2015 | download |
| OAPI Power of Attorney for Trademarks | Trademark | POA | May 6, 2015 | download |
Paris Convention, Madrid Protocol