Skip to main content

Is South Africa a member of OAPI?

Is South Africa a member of OAPI?

Even though the larger African economies of South Africa, Nigeria and Egypt do not form part of the regional systems, the OAPI and ARIPO system provide a relatively cheap, easy and effective way of extending patent protection to a total of 35 African countries with a combined nominal GDP of US$ 420 billion.

How many patents are in Africa?

Indeed, as shown in Figure 6.5 from the report, Africa lags globally in its number of registered patents, registering only 1,330 patents by residents in 2017, compared to a high of 592,508 in Asia. Furthermore, in Africa, patents are more frequently registered by nonresidents than by residents.

What is a patent in healthcare?

A medical patent refers to an exclusive government-granted right that protects an inventor of a unique medical product, process, or technology against market competition. It prevents the patented invention from being produced, sold, or used by competitors for a limited time.

What countries are in the OAPI?

The current members of OAPI are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Comoros, the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, the Niger, Senegal, and Togo.

Which countries are covered by an Eutm?

A European Union Trade Mark (EUTM) provides trade mark protection in all 28 member states of the European Union through one registration, namely: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta …

Who has highest patents in the world?

Shunpei Yamazaki — The Guinness Book of World Records currently names Shunpei as having more patents than any other person. He has been granted 2,591 United States utility patents and has 9,700 worldwide patents, which is cumulative of more than 40 years of inventions.

How do I apply for a patent in Africa?

Apply for your patent

  1. File a provisional application – This may be undertaken by the applicant with or without the assistance of an attorney.
  2. File a complete application – This must be signed by a patent attorney.
  3. File a PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) application (if applicable).

Why are patents important in healthcare?

Patents have long been considered essential incentives to foster innovation, particularly the development of new prescription drugs, due to the lengthy, costly, and risky nature of the research and development (R&D) process as compared to the lower levels of investment and risk associated with generic drug entry.

Can you patent a medical treatment?

While the United States allows the patenting of medical procedures and treatment methods, more than 80 countries exclude medical procedures from patentability.

What is the purpose of ARIPO?

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) is an inter-governmental organization (IGO) that facilitates cooperation among Member States in intellectual property matters, with the objective of pooling financial and human resources and seeking technological advancement for economic, social.

Is Nigeria a member of OAPI?

Nigeria is not a member of this Organization. ARIPO like the OAPI, it is a regional Intellectual Property Rights bloc. It was established in 1976 by the Lusaka Agreement. It is based in Harare, Zimbabwe and it has 18 member states made of several Anglophone African countries.

What does OAPI stand for?

Intellectual Property

Country
Competent administration African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI)
Web site address http://www.oapi.int/
Address Rue Hyppodrome 158 Place de la Préfecture Yaoundé-Cameroun
Telephone (237 2) 222 057 00 8239 KN

Does EUTM cover Norway?

A registered EU trademark applies in all EU member states (not EEA). Applicants living in Norway and companies based in Norway can send an application for registration of an EU trademark (EUTM) directly to the European Union trademark authority in Alicante.

What does EUTM stand for?

A European Union trade mark or EU trade mark (abbreviated EUTM; named Community Trade Mark (CTM) until 23 March 2016) is a trade mark which is pending registration or has been registered in the European Union as a whole (rather than on a national level within the EU).

What is an OAPI patent?

OAPI patent registrations afford protection in all 17 member states. OAPI member countries have renounced their national IP laws since an OAPI registration will provide the patentee with a single title of protection valid in each OAPI member country.

How do I obtain patent protection in Aripo?

ARIPO member countries retain their own national laws allowing for patent protection to be obtained by direct national filing in the member country or through designation in an ARIPO patent application.

Is OAPI a member of PCT?

Since OAPI is a member of the PCT, patent protection may also be obtained by way of a PCT application. OAPI member countries are also members of the Paris Convention, the Hague Agreement and the WTO/TRIPS. OAPI design registrations afford protection in all 17 member states.

What is the position on copyright in OAPI member countries?

However, the position in regard to copyright in the OAPI member countries is not entirely clear. Although the Bangui Agreement provides for copyright protection, some member countries have retained their copyright laws or have enacted new copyright laws. It is not clear how this dual legal dispensation will apply in practice.