Myers IP- Patent, Trademark and Design Applications South Africa, Intellectual Property Specialists South Africa

Region: OAPI – French African Countries

Summary

The African Intellectual Property Organisation, better known by its French acronym “OAPI” has its headquarters in Yaoundé – Cameroon. Its 16 member states include: the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, the Republic of Gabon, the Republic of Guinea – Conakry, the Republic of Guinea – Bissau, the Republic of Mali, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Togo and Equatorial Guinea.

It should be noted that any trademark or patent registration in OAPI has an effect in all the 16 member states.

An OAPI patent, design or trademark application automatically designates all 16 member states.

Region: ARIPO – English African Countries

ARIPO is the African Regional Industrial Property Organisation for English-speaking Africa. The member countries are Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Please note that protection can alternatively be obtained on an individual basis in any of these countries via a national application in such country. ARIPO is a member of the International Convention and of the PCT.

ARIPO Patents:

The deadline for PCT Regional Phase Entry is 31 months from the priority date.

ARIPO Trademarks:

Only the following member states having acceded to the Banjul Protocol can be designated for trademarks (unlike for patents, which all states can be designated): Botswana, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Tanzania , Uganda, Zimbabwe,

Costs:

Each ARIPO member state where protection is sought needs to be designated. In other words, an applicant can decide which states to designate (at least one designation and up to fifteen).

Please note that for PCT applications the first (and second) renewal fee may be due upon filing (due retrospectively on the first anniversary of the international filing date, where applicable). These fees are payable on filing.

The search and examination fee may be waived if ARIPO is provided with a search and examination report. A PCT search report and clear IPER is usually acceptable. These fees are payable at a later date (usually about 18 months after filing).

It is possible to designate the ARIPO member states to which the application applies.