Overview
Guinea’s intellectual property (IP) regime encompasses trademarks, patents, and industrial designs under a unified system. Although IP matters are generally managed by national institutions, Guinea is a member of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI). Rights obtained through OAPI extend to Guinea, offering a uniform set of protections applicable across all member countries.
OAPI’s regional procedures significantly simplify the registration process, allowing applicants to obtain IP rights valid in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously. Nonetheless, these rights can still be enforced locally in Guinea, ensuring legal recourse for both nationals and foreigners.
International Conventions
Through its membership in OAPI and other agreements, Guinea adheres to major international treaties:
- Paris Convention
- Berne Convention
- Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)