NIGER IP GUIDEWest Africa | OAPI Member
The Republic of Niger is completely landlocked and is bordered by Algeria and Libya to the north, Chad to the east, Nigeria and Benin to the south, and Burkina Faso and Mali to the west.
Area: 1 267 000 km2
Population: 20,672,987
Capital: Niamey
Currency: CFA Franc
GDP: $7.674 billion (2016)
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. However, further provision was made for copyright protection by way of an executive decree – Decree no 93-027 on Copyright, Neighbouring Rights and Folklore.
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.
