Overview
Senegal, as a member of the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI), processes trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under the unified OAPI system. Consequently, any IP right registered through OAPI is automatically extended to Senegal. Although the registration mechanism is centralized at OAPI, local enforcement recourse remains available in Senegal to tackle potential infringements.
Operating under OAPI procedures ensures a streamlined, regionally recognized route for intellectual property filings. Applicants—both domestic and foreign—can thus benefit from coverage across all member states with a single application while still pursuing enforcement actions through Senegal’s legal infrastructure.
International Conventions
Through its OAPI membership and international commitments, Senegal aligns with global treaties that influence its IP framework. Among these are:
Paris Convention
Berne Convention
TRIPS Agreement
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
Trademark applications covering Senegal are filed through OAPI under a single-class filing system:
Applicants must provide a clear depiction of the trademark and pay the prescribed fees.
Examination confirms the trademark’s distinctiveness and checks for potential conflicts with existing registrations.
Trademark registrations are valid for 10 years from the filing date, renewable for further 10-year periods.
Applicants need to give accurate details (name, address) and indicate the goods or services in one class.
Once registered under OAPI, the trademark is enforceable in Senegal, enabling rights holders to pursue legal or administrative measures against infringement.
Patent protection in Senegal is similarly obtained through OAPI, covering the invention across all member states:
Patents generally last 20 years from the filing date, provided annual fees are paid.
Applicants submit a specification, claims, and relevant documentation demonstrating the invention’s novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability.
OAPI is a contracting party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), meaning international applicants can designate OAPI for coverage in Senegal.
Exclusive patent rights can be enforced in Senegalese courts, ensuring that patent holders can prevent unauthorized usage within Senegal.
Industrial designs are also administered by OAPI, granting aesthetic protection for products in Senegal:
A formal application containing representations of the design and payment of official fees is required.
Design registrations typically last for an initial term of five years, renewable twice for a total of 15 years.
Applicants must supply comprehensive details for accurate examination and valid registration.
Owners of registered designs gain exclusive rights in Senegal, and have the means to stop unauthorized manufacturing or commercialization of similar designs within the national territory.
This information does not constitute legal advice; it is for informational purposes only.
