Patents Laws in Ivory Coast
Here’s an overview of patent laws in Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire):
Patent Laws in Ivory Coast
1. Governing Framework:
Ivory Coast is a member of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), which covers 17 African countries.
Patent laws in Ivory Coast are governed by the Bangui Agreement (from 1977, revised in 1999) administered by OAPI.
Patent applications and enforcement in Ivory Coast are handled through the OAPI system, which provides a centralized patent office for its member states.
2. Patent Protection under OAPI:
Patents granted by OAPI are valid and enforceable in all member states, including Ivory Coast.
The OAPI patent covers the entire territory of Ivory Coast and other member countries.
3. Patentability Criteria:
An invention must be new, involve an inventive step, and be industrially applicable.
Patent protection excludes discoveries, scientific theories, mathematical methods, aesthetic creations, schemes, business methods, and software as such.
Patents are granted for inventions in any field of technology.
4. Patent Term:
The patent term is 20 years from the filing date (which can be a regional OAPI filing date).
5. Filing Procedure:
Patent applications are filed directly with OAPI in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
OAPI conducts formal and substantive examination.
There is no national patent office in Ivory Coast for patents; all patent matters go through OAPI.
6. Language:
Applications and proceedings are conducted in French, which is the official language of Ivory Coast and OAPI.
7. Enforcement:
Patent rights granted by OAPI are enforceable in Ivory Coast.
Enforcement is through national courts in Ivory Coast, but based on OAPI patent rights.
Remedies include injunctions, damages, and seizure of infringing goods.
RELATED Blog
0 comments