OAPI Trademark Registration from India
African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), Yaoundé · Bangui Agreement
OAPI, the African Intellectual Property Organization in Yaoundé, grants a single trademark registration that takes effect in all 17 member states of West and Central Africa. There are no national trademark offices in these states, so OAPI is the only way to register there; Indian businesses can file directly through an OAPI agent or designate OAPI through Madrid.
- Reviewed by
- Advocate, intellectual property
- Last updated
- Source
- OAPI: Bangui Agreement
- Direct or Madrid, weighed for you. We explain where direct filing still gives more certainty in OAPI states.
- Local agent coordinated. Non-resident applicants act through an agent in a member state; we brief and supervise them.
- Specification in French where needed. French is OAPI’s main working language; we review every translation.
- Office
- OAPI, Yaoundé
- Covers
- 17 member states, one title
- Routes
- Direct or Madrid
- Language
- Mainly French
- Term
- 10 years, renewable
How does OAPI trademark protection work?
OAPI works as a single, unitary system. The member states have agreed, through the Bangui Agreement, to replace national trademark registration with one OAPI title. One application gives protection in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. You cannot register in only some of them, and a registration cannot be split by country.
That makes OAPI efficient for exporters to francophone West and Central Africa: one search, one application, one renewal. It also means a conflict in one state is a conflict for the whole territory.
Direct filing or Madrid?
OAPI joined the Madrid Protocol in 2015, so an Indian applicant can designate OAPI in a Madrid application filed through the Trade Marks Registry. For several years practitioners questioned whether Madrid designations were enforceable in member states, because the Bangui Agreement itself had not been amended. The revised Bangui Agreement, which entered into force in November 2020, now recognises international registrations designating OAPI.
Even so, many owners still file directly with OAPI for marks that matter most in the region, because a direct title avoids any remaining argument about national implementation and avoids the five-year Madrid dependency on the Indian base mark. For secondary marks, a Madrid designation alongside other countries can be the efficient choice. We explain the trade-off for your mark before filing.
What OAPI examines
OAPI examines formalities and absolute grounds and publishes the mark. Owners of earlier rights can oppose within a fixed period after publication. A registration lasts ten years from filing and is renewable. As in most systems, a registration that is not used can become vulnerable to cancellation, so keep evidence of sales in the region.
How long does OAPI registration take?
OAPI timelines vary more than European ones; plan for about a year or longer from filing to certificate.
| Stage | What happens | Typical timing |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | Direct filing through an OAPI agent, or Madrid designation notified by WIPO | Day 0 |
| Formal and substantive examination | Formalities, classification and absolute grounds | Several months |
| Registration and publication | Mark registered and published in the OAPI bulletin | Varies with office workload |
| Opposition window | Owners of earlier rights may oppose | Fixed period after publication |
| Renewal | Every ten years | 10 years |
OAPI publishes its rules and forms at oapi.int. Timing is indicative only.
What do you need to file an OAPI trademark?
For a direct OAPI filing
- Applicant name, address and legal form
- The mark: word, logo, or both, with any colour claim
- Goods and services by class (French version prepared for filing)
- Power of attorney in favour of the OAPI agent (simple signature, check legalisation needs)
- Indian priority details and a certified copy if claiming priority
For a Madrid designation of OAPI
- Indian basic application or registration in the same name
- Specification within the scope of the Indian basic mark
- Agent details if OAPI raises a refusal or an opposition is filed
What should you check before filing in OAPI states?
OAPI filings are straightforward once these points are settled; most problems later trace back to one of them.
- Search the OAPI register. A search through an OAPI agent shows earlier marks across all 17 states at once.
- Distributor filings. Check whether a local distributor or importer has already filed your mark. Recovering it needs a timely opposition or cancellation action.
- French specification. Agree the French wording of the goods and services before filing; it defines the scope of protection.
- Owner and documents. File in the name of the brand owner, and confirm in advance whether any document needs legalisation.
- Evidence of use. Keep invoices and shipping records for the region; they matter if the registration is challenged for non-use.
Questions about OAPI trademarks
Can I register a trademark only in Senegal or Côte d’Ivoire?
No. OAPI member states have no national trademark registers. Protection in any of them comes only from an OAPI registration, which covers all 17 states.
Is OAPI part of the Madrid System?
Yes. OAPI joined the Madrid Protocol in 2015, and the revised Bangui Agreement in force since 2020 recognises Madrid designations. Some owners still prefer a direct OAPI filing for their key marks for added certainty.
Do I need a local agent?
Yes for a direct filing. Applicants who are not domiciled in a member state act through an agent established in one. We instruct and supervise the agent for you.
In what language is the application filed?
French is OAPI’s principal working language and is used for most filings. We prepare the French specification and check it against your English list.
How long does an OAPI registration last?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable for further ten-year periods. Late renewal is possible within a grace period with a surcharge.
Does OAPI cover Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya?
No. These are not OAPI members. Kenya and Ghana are in the Madrid System and ARIPO; Nigeria needs a national filing. See our ARIPO page and our guide to trademark registration in Africa.