Overview
Congo (officially the Republic of the Congo) provides intellectual property protection for trademarks, patents, and industrial designs primarily through the Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle (OAPI). With OAPI membership, a single registration extends rights across all member states, including Congo. Local enforcement in Congo remains possible, ensuring that rights holders can pursue remedies for infringement within its court system.
OAPI’s centralized application process allows both domestic and international applicants to secure IP rights under a consistent set of rules. This framework aligns with international best practices and offers wide territorial coverage across multiple countries in Africa.
International Conventions
As an OAPI member, Congo benefits from multiple international agreements. In addition, it separately participates in some global IP treaties. These include:
- Paris Convention
- Berne Convention
- TRIPS Agreement
- Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT)
This information does not constitute legal advice; it is for informational purposes only.