REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO IP GUIDECentral Africa | OAPI Member
The People’s Republic of the Congo is an independent state bordered in the north by Cameroon and the Central African Republic, on the east and south by the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cabinda (Angola), and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and Gabon.
Area: 342 000 km2
Population: 4.1 million
Capital: Brazzaville
Currency: CFA Franc
GDP: $ 17.45 billion (2010)
Trade Marks
Trade mark protection is obtainable only in terms of the Bangui Agreement by way of a filing with the OAPI IP office.
Patents
Patent protection is obtainable only in terms of the Bangui Agreement by way of a filing with the OAPI IP office.
Designs
Design protection is obtainable only in terms of the Bangui Agreement by way of a filing with the OAPI IP office.
Copyright
Provision is made for copyright protection in OAPI member countries in terms of the Bangui Agreement.
Plant Breeders' Rights
Provision is made for plant breeders’ rights to be obtained in terms of the Bangui Agreement by way of a filing with the OAPI office.
Read the latest Africa Advisory Insights Newsletter.
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Goods and Services Classification update for OAPI
The OAPI IP Office recently published a notice informing trade mark owners, agents and all other users of the OAPI regional system that the Trade Marks Registry applies the current version of the Nice Classification system as adopted by WIPO, namely the 11th edition (2019 version).
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Hopes that changes to the Bangui Agreement will improve trade mark prosecution and litigation processes
It is hoped that a revision of the terms and functionality of the Bangui Agreement, subject to ratification by all member states of OAPI, will bring significant changes to the prosecution and litigation procedures in respect of trade marks, as well as OAPI’s administration of these processes.
