Cameroon: Patent

Patent protection in Cameroon also follows the OAPI system, with one application covering all member countries.

• The patent term is 20 years from the filing date, subject to payment of annual maintenance fees.

• The application must include a detailed specification, claims, and any necessary accompanying documents.

• Substantive examination ensures compliance with novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability requirements.

• Cameroon benefits from OAPI’s membership in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing international applicants to use the PCT route for obtaining patent rights that ultimately apply in Cameroon.

Granted patents confer exclusive rights within Cameroon, which may be enforced locally where infringements occur.