Benin: Patent

Patent protection in Benin also follows OAPI regulations. Applications filed via OAPI cover all its member states, including Benin:

• Patent term is typically 20 years from the filing date, subject to annual maintenance fees.
• Applicants must submit a detailed specification, claims, and necessary documents.
• The invention must fulfill novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability requirements.
• As OAPI is a contracting party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), international applicants can use the PCT route to eventually seek protection in Benin.

Patents granted through OAPI confer exclusive rights within Benin, with local enforcement measures available under relevant provisions.