OAPI (African Intellectual Property Organization) is the African equivalent of France's INPI or US USPTO for 17 Francophone African countries. One filing = protection in all those countries. One of the best IP levers on the continent, and 80% of e-commerce shops skip it.
TL;DR
- 17 countries covered: SN, CI, CM, GA, ML, BJ, TG, BF, NE, TD, MR, GN, GQ, CG, CF, KM, plus Bissau and São Tomé.
- Total filing cost 1 class: ~600,000 XOF (~€915) all in.
- Timeline: 4-8 months to final registration.
- 10-year protection, indefinitely renewable.
Why file an OAPI trademark
Real case — a "Kolonell" fashion shop in Dakar skipped OAPI filing. 18 months later, an Abidjan reseller filed "Kolonell Côte d'Ivoire" on the same products. Result: impossible to ship to CI without lawsuit risk, estimated 12M XOF in lost opportunities.
With an initial 600K XOF OAPI filing, this scenario was impossible.
Step 1 — anteriority search
Before filing, verify no identical or similar mark exists. Tools:
- OAPI database (
bnda.oapi.int) — free search - Industrial property advisor (CPI) — pro search 100-300K XOF
- Search by Nice class (45 classes available)
Most-used Nice classes in e-commerce:
- Class 25: clothing, footwear
- Class 35: online retail, advertising
- Class 9: mobile apps, software
- Class 41: training, education
- Class 42: IT services, web dev
- Class 43: catering, lodging
A mark must be filed in EVERY relevant class. Additional cost per class.
Step 2 — file preparation
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DOCUMENTS TO PROVIDE
- OAPI form M301 filled
- Graphic representation of the mark (logo .ai/.svg + .png)
- List of products/services (Nice wording)
- Power of attorney to agent (if CPI or lawyer files for you)
- Tax payment receipt
- If priority claim: certified copy of priority filing (max 6 months)
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Step 3 — detailed costs (May 2026)
| Item | Cost XOF | Cost € |
|---|---|---|
| Filing tax 1 class | 350,000 | 533 |
| Per additional class | 150,000 | 229 |
| CPI fees (recommended) | 200-400,000 | 305-610 |
| Pro anteriority search | 100-200,000 | 152-305 |
| Min total (1 class, no CPI) | 350,000 | 533 |
| Recommended total (2 classes, with CPI) | 800-1,100,000 | 1,220-1,680 |
Renewal every 10 years: ~250,000 XOF for 1 class.
Step 4 — online or physical filing
Option 1: file directly at OAPI HQ in Yaoundé (Cameroon) — physical
Option 2: file via your country's SNL (National Liaison Structure) — every OAPI country has one (ANPI Senegal, OIPI CI)
Option 3: file via CPI agent or lawyer — most practical
For e-commerce, option 3 (CPI) is recommended: they handle procedure, deadlines, possible oppositions.
Step 5 — examination + publication
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D+0 Filing + tax payment
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D+15 OAPI formal exam
D+30 If OK → published in BOPI (Official Industrial Property Bulletin)
D+30→D+180 Opposition period (180 days)
D+180 If no opposition → final registration
D+240 Registration certificate issued
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Common pitfalls
- Too descriptive mark — "Dakar Fashion Store" will be rejected (descriptive of activity). Prefer distinctive names ("Kolonell").
- Conflict with prior mark — if someone filed "Kolonell" before you in a similar class, your filing is blocked.
- Forgetting relevant classes — filing class 25 (clothing) without class 35 (online sales) = partial protection.
- Not monitoring new filings — a competitor can file a near-mark in a neighboring class. OAPI watch service ~150K XOF/year.
- Mark unused 5 years — challengeable for non-use.
Action when someone files a near-mark
Opposition procedure within 180 days of BOPI publication:
- Spot the publication via watch (monthly BOPI)
- Prepare opposition brief (with CPI)
- File at OAPI with ~250K XOF tax
- Adversarial hearing
- OAPI decision: accept or reject
Past 180 days: nullity action possible but more complex and costly (5-15M XOF per case).
Real case — pan-African protection of a fashion e-commerce
A Dakar fashion shop (2024 revenue: 180M XOF, 2026 projection: 450M):
- OAPI filing classes 25 + 35: 800K XOF
- Coverage: 17 countries including CI (Abidjan), CM (Douala), GA (Libreville)
- Annual OAPI watch: 150K XOF
- ROI: impossibility of mark squat in expansion targets. Mark protection asset valued 50-150M XOF per notoriety.
FAQ
Q: OAPI vs INPI vs WIPO?
A: OAPI = 17 Francophone African countries. INPI = France only. WIPO (Madrid system) = international, OAPI extendable via Madrid for other countries.
Q: Should I also register the domain name?
A: Yes — reserve all relevant TLDs (kolonell.com, kolonell.sn, kolonell.ci, kolonell.cm, etc.) before or alongside OAPI filing.
Q: Does OAPI protect Nigeria or Kenya?
A: No — Nigeria and Kenya aren't OAPI members. For these Anglophone countries, separate national filings required (NIPO Nigeria, KIPI Kenya).
Q: How long until first renewal?
A: 10 years from filing. At 9 years, start renewal procedure (~250K XOF).
Conclusion
OAPI filing is one of the most rewarding IP investments in Francophone Africa. 600-800K XOF for 17 countries protected 10 years = marginal cost once your mark gains value. Do it at launch, not after the first squatter.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
