Description
OAPI is an organization for the protection of Intellectual Property consisting of former French colonies whose official language is French (French speaking African countries). By the Accords de Libreville and Banjul, they established common Intellectual Property laws and a single Intellectual Property office situated in Yaoundé in Cameroon.
All member states are automatically covered in an OAPI trademark application, and it is not possible to select only some member states
An OAPI registration covers all 17 member states and it is no longer necessary or possible to seek protection in individual member countries.
Brief Description
French is the generally spoken language in all of the member countries and at the OAPI registry. The OAPI Registry is situated in Yaoundé Capital of Cameroon.
A single application automatically covers all member states and it is not possible to designate the countries of interest. There are provisions for the registration of SERVICE MARKS and COLLECTIVE MARKS.
There are no provisions for the registration of DEFENSIVE MARKS or SERIES MARKS.
The International Classification of goods and services applies (8th edition).
Multi class applications are provided for (additional fees being payable in respect of the fourth and each subsequent class) but goods and services cannot both be covered in the same application.
JEE Practice Details
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Requirements for filing
Patents of Invention (Non-PCT)
Power of Attorney (simply signed) (can be late filed within 2 months)
Specification, claims and abstract in English (required on the day of filing)
Formal drawings, if applicable (required on the day of filing)
International Patent Classification (can be late filed, no set deadline)
Assignment of Invention (can be late filed no set deadline)
Priority document with verified English translation (can be late filed within 3 months)
National Phase PCT applications
Power of Attorney (simply signed) (can be late filed within 2 months)
Specification, claims and abstract in English (required on the day of filing)
Formal drawings, if applicable (required on the day of filing)
International Patent Classification (required on the day of filing)
Copy of PCT International Publication (required on day of filing)
Copy of International Search Report (can be late filed, no set deadline)
Copy of International Preliminary Examination Report (can be late filed, no set deadline)
Grant
The patent offices of the designated States are notified of the grant of an ARIPO patent. A patent granted by ARIPO has, in each designated State, the same effect as a patent registered, granted or otherwise having effect under the applicable national law. The term of a patent in each designated State, is twenty years from the filing date.Renewal
Renewal fees fall due annually commencing on the anniversary date of the filing date.s -
Filing Requirements
Power of Attorney (simply signed) – can be late filed within 2 months;
6 sets of formal drawings – required on the day of filing;
Assignment of Design – can be late filed, no set deadline; and
Priority document with verified English translation – can be late filed within 3 months and 6 months, respectively.
Duration and Renewal
ARIPO registered designs have the same effect as national registered designs and are governed by the national Design Law of each designated member country.The term of an ARIPO design in each designated State, is ten years from the filing date.
Renewal fees fall due annually commencing on the first anniversary of the filing date. A six-month grace period, subject to a prescribed fee, is allowed for the late payment of a renewal fee.
