Overview
Mauritania secures intellectual property rights for trademarks, patents, and industrial designs within the framework of the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI), of which it is a member state. Registrations made through OAPI extend to Mauritania automatically, enabling rights holders to obtain protection across all member nations through a single procedure.
Although OAPI manages centralized registrations, enforcement in Mauritania remains a local matter. Rights holders can pursue administrative or judicial remedies in Mauritania to address any IP infringements. OAPI’s regional scope ensures harmonized proceedings in line with international best practices.
International Conventions
Beyond its membership in OAPI, Mauritania also adheres to several global treaties shaping its IP environment, such as:
Paris Convention
Berne Convention
TRIPS Agreement
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
In Mauritania, trademark protection is secured through OAPI, which uses a single-class filing system:
Applicants submit a reproduction of the trademark and pay the official fees.
A substantive exam checks distinctiveness and potential conflicts with earlier rights.
Trademark registrations last for 10 years from the filing date, with renewals in subsequent 10-year increments.
The applicant’s details (name, address) and identification of goods or services in one class are required.
Once registered, trademarks are valid across all OAPI member states, including Mauritania. Enforcement actions can be initiated locally if infringements occur
Patents for Mauritania are likewise handled through OAPI, covering all member states with a single application:
Patents are generally valid for 20 years from the filing date, subject to timely maintenance fee payments.
Applicants file a complete description, claims, and supporting documents demonstrating novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
OAPI’s status as a PCT member means applicants can designate OAPI under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, extending protection to Mauritania.
Granted patent rights are enforceable within Mauritania’s legal framework, allowing patent holders to address unauthorized uses through local proceedings.
Industrial design protection in Mauritania is similarly achieved through OAPI’s procedure:
Applicants submit representations of the design and pay associated fees.
Design registrations typically last for an initial term of five years, renewable twice for a total of 15 years.
Proper applicant details must be provided for a smooth registration process.
Once registered, the design owner possesses the exclusive right to prevent unapproved making or selling of substantially similar designs in Mauritania and all other OAPI member territories.