CONGO (OAPI):Approval of the statutes of the Industrial Property Office

According to the published minutes of the meeting of the Council of Ministers that was held on 15 February 2023, the Minister of Industrial Development and Promotion of the Private Sector, submitted a draft decree approving the statutes of the Congolese Industrial Property Office (IPO) to the council for consideration.  It is recorded that the draft is based on Law No. 70-2022 of 16 August 2022 creating the IPO.  Following the examination and discussion of the draft decree, the Council of Ministers adopted the decree, thereby approving the statutes of the IPO.

The IPO was created to implement the government’s policy on industrial property and to ensure the representation in the country of the African Intellectual Property Organisation (OAPI).  The IPO will provide technical support to entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, in preparing documents to obtain industrial property rights (through OAPI) and other related services.  Further, the IPO will play a role in combating infringement of IP rights, mainly focusing on counterfeiting and unfair competition.

The Republic of Congo remains one of the 17 member states of OAPI, through which the protection or registration of various intellectual property is acquired in the member states.

(SOURCE: Minutes of the Council of Ministers of Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | adiac-congo.com: all the news of the Congo Basin; The country adopts the law establishing the Congolese Industrial Property Office – FAAPA FR)