Trade Mark Registration in African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI)
There are two ways an Australian trade mark owner can seek trade mark protection in Africa:
1. File an application directly in Africa through an African trade mark agent; or
2. File an application through the Madrid Protocol (WIPO). This is an international registration system which allows trade mark owners the option of protecting their trade mark in multiple countries by filing one application.
An application in the African Intellectual Property Organisation gives you coverage in the following 17 states:
Benin, Bissau Guinea, Burkina faso, Cameroon, Centrafrica, Comores, Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Tchad, Equatorial Guinea, Togo.
If you’re thinking about extending your trade mark protection to Africa, please get in touch and we can talk through the options available to you.
