OAPI Trademark Registration Costs and Registration Procedures

The legal basis of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) trademark is Bangui Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organization, Constituting a Revision of the Agreement Relating to the Creation of an African and Malagasy Office of Industrial Property. Trademark Registration in the OAPI grants protection in 17 countries, such as Congo, Central African Republic, Benin, Niger, etc. The OAPI is a member of the Madrid Protocol. The OAPI adopts first-to-file basis for trademark protection. A trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the date of application and could be renewed for 10 years before the expiry date.

Example 1: One mark one class
If you want to have your trademark "ABC" registered in Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), that is, one mark one class, the total fees for trademark pre-filing search, registration request and certificate are:

Pre-filing search: USD830
Request for registration: USD2,630
Final registration/Certificate: USD235
TOTAL: USD3,695

Example 2: One mark four classes
If you want to have your trademark "ABC" registered in Class 7 (machines and machine tools etc), Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), Class 26 (ribbons and braid) and Class 27 (carpets, rugs and mats), that is, one mark four classes, the total fees for trademark pre-filing search and registration request and certificate are:

Pre-filing search: 830 + 225 =USD1,055
Request for registration: 2,630 + 665 = USD3,295
Final registration/Certificate: USD235
TOTAL: USD4,585

Example 3: Two marks one class
If you want to have your trademarks "ABC" and "DEF" registered in Class 25 (clothing, footwear, headgear), that is, two marks one class, the total fees for trademark pre-filing searches, registration requests and certificates are:

Pre-filing searches: 830 + 830 =USD1,660
Request for registrations: 2,630 + 2,630 = USD5,260
Final registrations/Certificates: 235 + 235 = USD470
TOTAL: USD7,390

The costs illustrated in the examples above are based on the assumption of a smooth application, that is, no objection being raised by the DPI or any other third party. Also, the costs stated above exclude fax, bank charge, copying, courier charges for sending the Power of Attorney and delivery of Certificate of Registration upon acceptance of registration.

It is further assumed that the number of items of products included in each class is no more than 20. Each additional item after the first 20 is charged at a fee of USD10.

Our fees for each stage of an application are to be invoiced and settled before the commencement of each stage of service. If a China or Taiwan Value-Added Tax invoice is required, 7% or 5% additional charge will be incurred.

We currently accept cheque, cash, TT and credit card through Paypal (5% additional charge will incur for paypal). Please click here for payment methods.

No refund of fees will be made after the commencement of services. For example, if we have conducted a pre-filing search and found an identical mark is already in the register, the application will not be proceeded, the fees for pre-filing search will not be refunded. If we have already filed an application and the application is objected by the DPI or any other party or refused, there will not be any refunded of fees.