African Intellectual Property Organization trademark registration

The African Intellectual Property Organization, or OAPI, is a regional alliance of french-speaking countries in former French colonies to protect Intellectual Property. Headquartered in Yaounde, Cameroon, it manages trademark affairs in all member countries.

The 16 member states of WIPO include:

Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Congo, Chad, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo, Equatorial Guinea.

Overview of WIPO Registration in Africa:

Wipo member countries are former French colonies, so French is the designated language for non-registration. For domestic applicants, it has increased the difficulty of applying for registration.

In the field of trademarks, the member countries of unknown organizations are completely constrained by unknown organizations and do not have their own independent trademark systems. Therefore, there is no possibility of country by country registration and they can only register through unknown organizations.

Wipo's trademark registration fee is divided into two parts: inquiry and registration. If the trademark registration application is rejected, the registration fee will be refunded.

Advantages: can get the registration certificate of each country, easy to use, each country will not affect each other.

Requirements and Documents required for registration with WIPO:

1. Applicant qualifications:

No basic registration requirements; Any natural or legal person wishing to obtain trademark protection in an unknown organization.

2. Required Documents:

A. Power of attorney (provided by the company, signed and sealed by the applicant);

B. One copy of business license or personal ID card;

C. Name and address of applicant in English and Chinese;

D. Categories and names of goods/services to be protected;

E. Trademark drawings.

3. The exclusive right to use a trademark shall be valid for ten years from the date of application, and shall be valid for ten years for each renewal of registration.