Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle

The Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle or OAPI (English: African Intellectual Property Organization[1][2][notes 1]) is an intellectual property organization, headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The Bangui agreement gave the following responsibilities to OAPI: The organisation has three organs: The Administrative Council; the High Commission of Appeal; and the Directorate General.

It is responsible for the daily activities of the organisation and implements the decisions of the Administrative Council and other tasks arising from provisions of the agreement.

headed by Denis Loukou Bohoussou (from Côte d'Ivoire) following his installation ceremony on 31 July 2017 at OAPI’s headquarters in Yaounde, Cameroon.

[12] The Bangui Agreement covers patents,[17] utility models,[18] trademarks,[19] industrial design right,[20] trade names,[21] geographical indications,[22] copyright,[23] unfair competition,[24] integrated circuit layouts[25] and plant variety rights.

In that case, the application must be transmitted to OAPI by the national administration within a period of five days.

[29] With this accession by OAPI, the Madrid System now provides brand owners the potential to protect their products through one international application covering more than 100 countries.

Design applications must be filed at the OAPI office or with the Ministry in a member state responsible for industrial property.