African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) is composed of multiple countries, and is a regional organization for the protection of intellectual property rights. There are currently 17 member countries. The official language is French. At the same time, OAPI is also a member of the Madrid Agreement. As long as it is one of the 17 member states of OAPI and is also be applicable the Madrid Agreement.

The protection methods of African OAPI trademarks:1. Apply through OAPI; 2. Through the Madrid trademark application.

African OAPI trademark application time is about 12-18 months. If there is a refusal or objection then applicant need to reply. And application time extension. After submitting the application, application receipt would receive about 5 days within.

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Features Of The African OAPI Trademark
The international registration of African intellectual property rights only needs to pass an examination, and the trademark rights can be obtained in 17 countries without specifying the country. Compared with a single country registration, it has the characteristics of low price, simple application procedures and reliable.

The African Intellectual Property Rights (OAPI) member states: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo.

Materials Required For Filing Of Trademark Application In The OAPI
1. Applicant ID
    a. Individual application: ID card copy
    b.Company application: copy of certificate of incorporation
2. Applicant's  name and address with Chinese and English.
3. Clear trademark image.
4. Classes of trademark applications and goods / services (※According to The Nice Classification)
5. Power of attorney
6. A copy of priority document. (It must be provided within 3 months of filing the trademark application.)

 
African OAPI Trademark Application Process
1. Application
After submitting the registration application documents and fees to the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), an application receipt can be obtained in about 5 days. (※ Each application can apply for 3 classes)
2. Form and substance examination
About 2-3 months after the application is accepted, the official will conduct formal examination and substantive examination. If the official objects the application, a reply must be made.
3. Announcement and registration
An application that passes formal examination and substantive examination is approved for registration.
The registered trademark will be published in the official gazette for 6 months. During this time, anyone can file an objection to the trademark. If there is no objection or the objection is not established, the trademark shall be registered.
※ If there is any objection during the announcement period, the applicant must reply. If the applicant disagrees with the decision of the objection, he can file a lawsuit in the court.

※Notices:
1. OAPI trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of application and could be renewed from 1 year before the expiration to 6 months after the expiration and each extension can be used for another 10 years.
2. The response must be submitted within 3 months of receipt of the OAPI notice the provisional rejection notice of WIPO ’s . This time cannot be extended.
3. Foreigners who are not resident in OAPI member countries must file a trademark prosecution in OAPI through an OAPI registered trademark agent.
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