Comoro Islands Becomes a Member of OAPI
29-Apr-2013
YAOUNDE – The African Intellectual Property Organization (known by its French acronym OAPI) announced that the Comoro Islands ratified the Bangui Accord on March 25, 2013. Accordingly, the Comoro Islands is now a full member of OAPI.
Since the Comoros Islands has not yet legislated Intellectual Property laws, right holders who seek to protect their rights in the Comoro Islands can only publish a Cautionary Notice. Therefore, all trademarks filed with OAPI on or after March 25, 2013 will be effective in the Comoros Islands.
As for other registrations filed prior to the said date, they will be granted an extension period automatically on their next renewal after March 25, 2013.
By its adherence to the Bangui Accord, the Comoro Islands brings the total number of Member States of OAPI to 17.
The OAPI’s Members now include Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo in addition to Comoro Islands.