OAPI Trademark Registration: One Trademark for 17 African Countries
OAPI trademark registration protects your brand in 17 West and Central African countries through a single application. You file with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
OAPI runs a unitary system under the Bangui Agreement: one filing, one registration and one renewal cover every member state. These countries have no national trademark office, so an OAPI registration is the only way to protect a brand there. OAPI follows first-to-file, so early filing matters. For brands entering francophone Africa, one OAPI filing secures the whole region.
On this page
OAPI trademark registration at a glance
- IP office
- African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Yaoundé, Cameroon; covers all 17 member states as one right
- Law
- Bangui Agreement, Annex III on marks (as revised in 2015, in force since 2020)
- System
- First-to-file
- Classification
- Nice Classification, 45 classes
- Multi-class filing
- Yes, since the 2015 revision
- Madrid Protocol
- Yes, OAPI can be designated since 2015
- Language
- French or English
- Opposition period
- 3 months from publication
- Typical timeline
- 6 to 12 months if no objection or opposition
- Validity
- 10 years from filing, renewable for 10-year periods
- Official fees
- On request; charged in CFA francs (XAF) per class
- Power of attorney
- Simply signed; notarisation and legalisation not required
* Timelines assume no objections or oppositions. Laws change, so contact us to confirm current requirements.
Why register your trademark with OAPI
The only way to protect your brand in these countries
OAPI member states have no separate national trademark registers. Without an OAPI registration, your brand has no registered protection in any of the 17 countries.
One filing covers 17 markets
A single application protects you from Senegal to Cameroon, with one fee and one certificate. The region is a combined market of more than 200 million people.
First-to-file means early filing matters
Rights go to the first applicant. Registering early stops distributors and local traders from claiming your brand before you enter the region.
Easier enforcement and customs action
An OAPI registration has effect as a national right in every member state. It is the basis for court action, police raids and customs seizures across the region.
Our OAPI trademark services
End-to-end support from our licensed in-country attorneys, from the first search to lifelong protection.
Trademark search
Clearance searches in the OAPI register before filing.
Trademark registration
Application drafting, class and specification strategy, and filing in French or English.
Office action response
Responses to OAPI formal and absolute-grounds objections.
Opposition
Filing and defending oppositions before OAPI.
Renewal and recordals
10-year renewals tracked and filed on time, plus transfers, licences and name changes recorded at OAPI.
Trademark watch
Alerts on conflicting marks published in the OAPI gazette.
Why choose Legacy Partners Global as your OAPI trademark consultants
- Africa-wide strategy: we combine OAPI with ARIPO and national filings, so one team covers French- and English-speaking Africa.
- Local agent network: registered OAPI agents in Yaoundé handle filings and oppositions, coordinated by one Legacy Partners Global contact.
- Bilingual drafting: specifications prepared in French or English to match OAPI practice.
- Fixed written quotes: official and professional fees confirmed in writing before you instruct us.
- Offices in UAE, India, UK and Canada: we serve brand owners entering African markets.
A qualified attorney reviews every enquiry within one working day.
OAPI member states
An OAPI trademark covers all 17 member states automatically. You cannot choose or exclude individual countries.
| Region | Member states |
|---|---|
| West Africa | Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo |
| Central Africa | Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon |
| Indian Ocean | Comoros |
Not covered by OAPI: Nigeria, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Morocco, Algeria and other non-members. File nationally there, or through ARIPO for its Banjul Protocol states.
OAPI trademark registration process
Here is how to register a trademark through OAPI, step by step.
An OAPI trademark goes from filing to registration in about 6 to 12 months if no one opposes.
Filing
A registered OAPI agent files the application in Yaoundé, or through the ministry responsible for IP in a member state. It names the mark, the classes and the goods or services. Paris Convention priority can be claimed within 6 months of a first filing elsewhere.
Formal examination
OAPI checks the filing requirements, fees and the goods and services list. Missing documents must be supplied within the period OAPI sets.
Substantive examination
OAPI examines the mark on absolute grounds, such as lack of distinctiveness or conflict with public order. It does not refuse on earlier marks on its own initiative.
Registration and publication
The mark is registered and published in the OAPI Official Bulletin (BOPI).
Opposition period (3 months)
Owners of earlier rights have 3 months from publication to oppose.
Certificate
Once registered, OAPI issues the registration certificate, effective in all 17 member states.
Renewal (every 10 years)
The registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and is renewed for further 10-year periods.
Start your application in a few minutes. Nothing is filed until you approve the written quote.
Documents required for OAPI trademark registration
Power of attorney
In favour of the OAPI agent, signed by the applicant.
Applicant details
Full name, address, and nationality or place of incorporation.
Mark representation
A clear JPG image for logos and stylised marks, with colours claimed if relevant.
Goods and services
Your list of goods and services by Nice class, in French or English.
Priority document
A certified copy if you claim priority, with a French or English translation.
Power of attorney requirements for foreign applicants (OAPI)
Foreign applicants filing with OAPI need a simply signed power of attorney in favour of a registered OAPI agent. Notarisation and legalisation are not required. Applicants without a domicile in a member state must act through a registered OAPI agent. Filing can start on a scanned copy, with the original supplied within a set period. We send a ready-to-sign power of attorney the same day you instruct us.
Timeline, validity and renewal
How long registration takes
A straightforward OAPI application takes approximately 6 to 12 months from filing to registration without opposition. Registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and is renewed for further 10-year periods. A 6-month grace period applies with a surcharge.
OAPI trademark law and the regional office
OAPI was created under the Bangui Agreement of 1977, which acts as a common IP law for all member states. Trademarks are governed by Annex III of the Agreement, as revised in 2015 and in force since 14 November 2020.
OAPI in Yaoundé handles filing, examination, registration, opposition and renewal. Its registrations take effect as national rights in each member state, where national courts hear infringement and enforcement cases.
OAPI vs ARIPO vs Madrid
For francophone West and Central Africa, OAPI is the only route, filed directly or through Madrid. Many brands combine OAPI with ARIPO and national filings for continent-wide cover.
| OAPI (direct) | ARIPO (Banjul Protocol) | Madrid designating OAPI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coverage | All 17 OAPI states | Banjul states you designate | All 17 OAPI states |
| Choice of countries | No, unitary | Yes | No |
| Main language | French or English | English | Madrid language of filing |
| Refusal | Refuses the whole OAPI right | Only in the refusing state | Refuses the OAPI designation |
| Home mark needed first | No | No | Yes, plus 5-year dependency |
| Enforcement certainty | Strong, uniform law | Depends on domestication | Treated as an OAPI right |
| Suits | Brands targeting francophone Africa | English-speaking Southern and East Africa | Portfolios already using Madrid |
Use requirements and non-use cancellation
No proof of use is needed to register or renew an OAPI trademark. However, a mark not used in any member state for 5 consecutive years can be cancelled by a court on an interested party's application. The owner can avoid this by showing a legitimate reason for non-use.
Keep evidence of use in the region: invoices, distributor agreements, packaging and advertising.
Opposition, objections and appeals
OAPI objections
If OAPI raises a formal or absolute-grounds objection, the applicant has 3 months to respond.
Opposition
Owners of earlier rights can oppose within 3 months of publication in the BOPI. The applicant is notified and can file a counter-statement.
Appeals
Opposition decisions by the Director General can be appealed to OAPI's High Commission of Appeal within the statutory period. After registration, cancellation for non-use or invalidity is sought before a member state's national courts, with effect across OAPI.
Trademark enforcement and infringement in OAPI states
An OAPI registration is enforceable in each of the 17 member states, before that country's courts and authorities.
What counts as infringement
Using an identical or similar mark for identical or similar goods or services, where confusion is likely, counts as infringement. So do counterfeiting and importing or selling goods bearing your mark without consent.
Your enforcement options
- Cease-and-desist letter: a fast, low-cost first step, often effective with distributors and importers.
- Seizure by court order (saisie-contrefaçon): obtain a court order to inspect and seize infringing goods as evidence.
- Civil and criminal action: national courts can award damages, order destruction of goods and impose fines and imprisonment for counterfeiting.
- Customs measures: ask customs authorities in member states to detain suspect imports where border procedures exist.
- Online takedowns: remove infringing listings on African marketplaces and social media.
How Legacy Partners Global helps
Our OAPI trademark consultants coordinate evidence gathering, cease-and-desist letters, seizures and litigation through local counsel in the relevant member state.
What to know before filing with OAPI
Record assignments and licences
Ownership changes and licences only bind third parties once recorded with OAPI. Record them promptly.
Check the French meaning
A mark that is descriptive or offensive in French can be refused. Check the French reading of your brand before filing.
File for what you will sell
Protection covers only the goods and services listed. Include products you plan to launch in the region over the next few years.
Client stories
Businesses that trust us with their brands across borders.
We had an excellent experience working with Legacy Partners for trademark registration and brand protection services in India. Their expert team guided us throughout the filing process, ensuring accurate documentation, timely updates, and seamless support. Their professionalism and intellectual property expertise gave us confidence in protecting our brand identity while supporting our expansion into new markets.
We had a seamless experience working with Legacy Partners for trademark registration services in Bahrain. Their professional team provided excellent support throughout the trademark filing process, ensuring timely updates, accurate documentation, and smooth coordination. Their expertise in intellectual property and brand protection services helped us secure our brand identity with confidence.
* Client stories are shared with permission.
OAPI trademark registration: FAQ
How long does OAPI trademark registration take?
Approximately 6 to 12 months if no objection or opposition is filed.
How much does OAPI trademark registration cost?
Official fees are charged in CFA francs per class. We confirm the full cost, including our professional fee, in writing before anything is filed.
How long is an OAPI trademark valid?
10 years from the filing date, renewable for further 10-year periods.
Can I file one application for several classes?
Yes, since the revised Bangui Agreement took effect, with fees charged per class.
Do I need a local agent or OAPI trademark consultant?
Applicants without a domicile in a member state must file through a registered OAPI agent. A consultant coordinates the agent and handles objections and oppositions.
How do I choose an OAPI trademark consultant?
Check that they work with registered OAPI agents and draft in French or English. They should also handle oppositions and quote fees separately.
Is an ARIPO or national trademark valid in OAPI countries?
No. OAPI states have no national trademark registers, and ARIPO does not cover them. An OAPI filing is the only way to protect a brand there.
What can I do if someone copies my trademark in an OAPI country?
Send a cease-and-desist letter, then seek a court seizure order, civil damages or criminal action in that member state.
Does OAPI follow first-to-file?
Yes. The first applicant generally gets the rights, so file before you enter the region.
Do I need to use my trademark before filing?
No. But a mark unused for 5 consecutive years across the region can be cancelled on a third party's application.
Do I need to file my OAPI trademark in French?
No. OAPI accepts filings in French or English. Check the French reading of your brand before filing.
Can I designate OAPI through the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. OAPI is a Madrid member and can be designated in an international registration since 2015.
What documents do I need, and does the power of attorney need notarisation or legalisation?
A simply signed power of attorney for the OAPI agent, applicant details, the mark image and your goods and services by class. Notarisation and legalisation are not required.
Trademark registration in other African markets
Register your OAPI trademark today
Speak to our OAPI trademark consultants. Send your mark and we will reply with a free search and a fixed written quote within one working day.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Official requirements and fees can change; we confirm the current position for your matter before filing.