News & Events

Since its accession to the Madrid Protocol in 2015, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is available in the list of targetable territories in the context of an international application. As a preliminary, it must be admitted logically, and without considering the figures, that the rallying of OAPI seems to be a boon for international […]

The African continent remains one of the major markets where intangible assets remain the least protected in comparison with the strength of sales and service delivery in a continent undeniably emerging. The Continent is still a sanctuary where the wrong sometimes takes the place of the real in countries the purchasing power is not yet […]

The following changes would be as follows : reduced term of protection from 14 years to 10 years Adoption of the Nice Classification Introduction of a grace period of 6 months when renewing brands. In view of the administrative difficulties in the country, these new provisions are not yet published and for the most part […]

The maximum validity period for a model is now 25 years, instead of 50 years.

The following countries are expected to accede to the Madrid Protocol by the end of 2019: South Africa, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mauritius, Democratic Republic of Congo, Seychelles.

Since 1st October 2018, it is possible to designate  services when filing trademarks. Since 25th December 2018, Malawi has joined the Madrid Protocol and  it is now possible to designate this country under an international trademark filing.

The period of use obligation is 5 years from the date of granting of protection. Warning : this date of granting  could be different from the deposit and the registration date.

After 3 years of waiting, the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) unveiled on October 22, 2018 the major changes of the revised Bangui Agreement (revised on the 14 December 2015 in Bamako, Mali). These changes were driven by OAPI’s concern to improve on the quality of its operating procedures and rules and to stay inconformity […]

Some products are subject to certain requirements before they are placed on the market in some countries. In Nigeria, NAFDAC is the authority charged with the regulation and control of the importation, exportation, manufacture, advertisement, distribution, sale and use of certain products. The scope of its authority is broad and the products under its jurisdiction […]

The Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI) celebrated on the 13th of September 2018 the African day for Technology and Intellectual Property. The event took place at the OAPI head office in Yaoundé and was attended but employees of the organization, IP agents and lawyers, Conseil en Propriété Industrielle (CPI) and a special guest […]