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OAPI stands for African Intellectual Property Organization, also known as AIPO and is a central intellectual property registration office system for African French speaking countries. OAPI has the following member states:
- Mali
- Senegal
- Togo
- Burkina Faso
- Cameroon
- Chad
- Benin
- Central African Republic
- Mauritania
- Mali
- Gabon
- Equatorial Guinea
- Guinea
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Niger
- Republic of Congo
The newest members of OAPI are that of Guinea, Togo and Mali. The head quarters are in Cameroon and the aim with the system is promotion of economic and social development, overseeing the management of laws regarding inventions and doing so through the cooperation amongst its member states.
The aim is to create and implement coherent administration and promoting intellectual property rights amongst member states including patents, copyright, design rights, and trademarks.
By centralising the procedures for registration of intellectual property rights and promoting uniform laws regarding inventiveness, OAPI aims to help protect the creations of the mind in Africa.
A member state makes a deposit allowing them to have their rights protected through the system. It is seen as an important system ensuring that intellectual property rights can also be protected in developing countries.
Smit & Van Wyk Intellectual Property Attorneys, situated in South Africa, are well acquainted with the regulations and international protection provided by various organisations including WIPO and OAPI. Should you wish to obtain intellectual property rights in other countries, we should be your first stop.
Contact us today for assistance in registering intellectual property rights in other countries also on the African continent.
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