Overview
Cameroon’s intellectual property regime covers trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under a unified system. Although domestic matters of IP are generally overseen by national institutions, Cameroon is a member state of the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI). Rights secured through OAPI extend to Cameroon, offering a uniform set of protections applicable to all member countries.
OAPI’s regional procedures significantly streamline the filing process, allowing applicants to secure IP rights that are valid in several jurisdictions at once. Nonetheless, local enforcement of these rights remains possible in Cameroon, ensuring that both national and foreign applicants can seek recourse in the event of infringement.
International Conventions
Cameroon, through OAPI membership and other agreements, adheres to key global treaties, including:
- Paris Convention
- Berne Convention
- TRIPS Agreement
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Trademarks in Cameroon are registered through OAPI, which generally uses a single-class filing approach for applications.
Applicants must present a clear reproduction of the trademark and pay the prescribed fees.
The substantive exam focuses on distinctiveness and other legal eligibility criteria.
Trademark registration is valid for 10 years from the filing date, with the possibility of successive 10-year renewals.
Information such as the applicant’s name, address, and description of goods or services must be accurately specified in the chosen class.
Once a trademark is granted, rights extend throughout OAPI member states, including Cameroon. Enforcement against infringement may be sought through local administrative or judicial channels.
Patent protection in Cameroon also follows the OAPI system, with one application covering all member countries.
The patent term is 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual maintenance fees.
The application must include a detailed specification, claims, and any necessary accompanying documents.
Substantive examination ensures compliance with novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability requirements.
Cameroon benefits from OAPI’s membership in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing international applicants to use the PCT route for obtaining patent rights that ultimately apply in Cameroon.
Granted patents confer exclusive rights within Cameroon, which may be enforced locally where infringements occur.
Industrial design protection in Cameroon is equally achieved through OAPI’s unified registration procedure.
A proper depiction of the design is required.
Design registrations typically last for an initial term of five years, with possible renewals in line with OAPI regulations.
Applicants must furnish precise details to ensure accuracy during the examination process.
Once approved, industrial designs confer exclusive rights that prevent third parties from making, importing, or selling substantially similar designs in Cameroon and other OAPI jurisdictions.
This information does not constitute legal advice; it is for informational purposes only.
