COUNTRY : GABONESE REPUBLIC
CAPITAL : LIBREVILLE
LANGUAGE : FRENCH
The African Intellectual Property Organisation known commonly by it’s French Acronym (OAPI) was established through the Bangui Agreement at the Republic of Central Africa and is head quartered at Yaounde, Cameroon.
OAPI is a comity of 16 Former French Colonies which are also French speaking Countries - CAMEROON, BENIN, BURKINA FASO, CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC, CONGO, IVORY COAST, GABON, GUINEA BISSAU, MALI, MAURITANIA, NIGER, SENAGAL, CHAD, TOGO, EQUATORIAL GUINEA.
Member Nations of the OAPI have retained significant portions of the legal systems of the countries that colonised them.
However, legal questions regarding infringement and IP matters requiring litigation are to be settled by domestic courts of each state.
Member nations recognise the provisions entrenched in the Bangui Agreement and its annexes as their national law. Hence, OAPI allows applicants to receive patent protection in all of the 16 jurisdictions with a single application and registration.
Therefore, Registration in individual member nations, is no longer possible.
International Treaties to which OAPI is a signatory:
• Paris Convention for the protection of Industrial Property
• Patent Co-operation Treaty – PCT.
• Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights –TRIPS.
• Budapest Convention
FILING WITH PATENT OFFICE- 12 Months
REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION – Within 6 month from the date of direction
COMPLIANCE OF OFFICE ACTION –
ANY OTHER COMPLIANCE –
Member Nations of the OAPI have retained significant portions of the legal systems of the countries that colonised them.
However, legal questions regarding infringement and IP matters requiring litigation are to be adjudicated by domestic courts of each state.
Member nations recognise the provisions entrenched in the Bangui Agreement and its annexes as their national law.
Hence, OAPI allows applicants to receive patent protection in all of the 16 jurisdictions with a single application and registration.
Therefore, Registration in individual member nations, is no longer possible.
Inventions may relate to products, processes or industrial applications. Patents are therefore granted to inventions that:
Inventions pertaining to the following:
• Discoveries, Scientific Theories & Mathematical methods.
• Aesthetic creations.
• Substances already existing in nature and nuclear materials.
• Charts
• Schemes, Rules, Methods for performing mental acts, playing games, doing business as well as Presentation of Information.
• Programmes for Computers.
• Inventions contrary to public order & morals.
• Methods of treatment by surgery or therapy on humans and animals.
• Prejudicial to the Interest or Security of the Nation.
(i). A formal request for the grant of a patent of invention .
(ii). The name and address or head office of the applicant or his representative .
(iii). Short adequate Title of the Invention to be patented.
(iv). Summary of the invention and Priority data if any.
(v). Description of the invention along with drawings if any.
(vi). Claims along with Abstract
(vii). Drawings necessary to understand the invention.