• Design fees

Fees associated with filing industrial design applications in OAPI, as well as other design fees, are available in the fee calculator.

• Term for filing an industrial design application in OAPI

Time limit for filing design application in OAPI claiming priority is six months from the priority date.

• Minimum filing requirements in OAPI

To obtain the date of filing the design application in OAPI must contain: 
- request to grant a patent;
- applicant’s and author's details;
- application materials;
- statement of the type of product for which the design registration is sought;
- evidence of payment of the fees.

• Multiple design applications

According to the OAPI legislation, similar designs (up to 100) may be filed in one design application if they belong to the same class of the Locarno classification.

• Power of Attorney

The legalisation of the POA form is not required. The deadline for submitting the document to OAPI is 3 months from issuance of the corresponding Office Action.

• Priority document

To confirm the priority right the certified true copy of the priority document together with the translation thereof in English or French must be provided within three months from filing the design application.

• Examination of a design application in OAPI

The design applications in OAPI undergo formal examination only.

• Novelty grace period

OAPI design application may be filed within 12 months after the disclosure at an official or officially recognized international exhibition or when such a disclosure was made in bad faith by any third party.

• Grant fee

The official grant fee for a design patent in OAPI is not stipulated.  

• Validity term

The industrial design in OAPI is valid for five years and may be renewed for two more 5-year periods.

• Representation by a patent attorney

For foreigners not residing in any of the OAPI member-country, it is required to perform the industrial design prosecution in OAPI through an agent, registered OAPI patent attorney.

The above information was verified by Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm on 16.02.2022
Please contact us if the above information is not in conformity with the OAPI IP Laws