OAPI website

OAPI website：https://oapi.int

OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organization) is a regional intellectual property protection alliance composed of French-speaking countries in Africa. Its headquarters is located in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, and its official language is French. The organization was established in 1962, formerly known as the Africa-Margash Industrial Property Office. It is responsible for examining and issuing intellectual property certificates such as invention patents, trademarks, and industrial designs, and providing literature information dissemination and training services. ‌

The OAPI currently has 17 member states (as of July 2025), including French-speaking countries such as Cameroon, Gabon and Benin. Each member state shall transfer the authority to examine intellectual property rights to OAPI, and the patents and other certificates issued by it shall automatically take effect in the member states. ‌