Middle East & Africa

Cameroon

Patent system, trademark registration, annuity management, and renewals in Cameroon.

Authority

OAPI

PCT

30 mo

Madrid

Non-member

OAPI Search

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Before You Start

Before filing or quoting, you'll typically confirm these first

1
Whether to pursue the Paris route, PCT national phase, or start with trademark registration in Cameroon
2
Which of patent filing, trademark registration, annuity, or renewal is the most urgent priority
3
Whether to verify the official portal, search system, and key deadlines before moving to a quote or engagement

The sections below cover each module — use the navigation to jump directly to what you need.

Patent System & Process

Patent System in Cameroon

Cameroon is the **headquarters of OAPI** (located in Yaoundé); it is a bilingual French/English-speaking country with key petroleum, timber, agriculture (cocoa, coffee), and manufacturing sectors. As an OAPI member, IP in Cameroon is protected through OAPI's **unitary regional system** — a SINGLE OAPI application covers **all 17 OAPI member states** simultaneously, no per-state designation needed. 20-year patent term; PCT supported (30 months); filing primarily in French (English also accepted by OAPI).

OAPI Patent (Covers All 17 Member States) ▾

OAPI is headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon. One OAPI patent grant automatically covers all 17 francophone African member states — no per-state designation. 20-year term. OAPI accepts both French and English but French is the primary working language.

Source: OAPI (www.oapi.int) — Agreement of Bangui

PCT Route into OAPI ▾

PCT applications can designate OAPI; 30-month deadline; typically in French.

Source: OAPI; WIPO PCT Guide — OAPI

Trademark System & Process

Trademark System in Cameroon

OAPI trademark is also unitary — one application covers all 17 member states; 10-year term; renewable; primarily in French. Cameroon has **not individually joined Madrid** — OAPI filing is the standard trademark protection route.

OAPI Trademark (All 17 Member States) ▾

One OAPI trademark application covers all 17 francophone African member states; 10-year term; primarily in French. OAPI HQ is in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Source: OAPI

Patent Annuity

Cameroon Patent Annuities

OAPI patent annuities paid centrally to OAPI for all 17 member states; grace period available.

Source: OAPI fee schedule

Annuity Reference → Managed Annuities

Trademark Renewal

Cameroon Trademark Renewals

OAPI trademark: 10-year term; single renewal to OAPI covers all 17 member states.

Source: OAPI

Renewal Reference → Managed Renewals

FAQ

Common Questions — Cameroon IP

Where is OAPI headquartered? ▾

OAPI (Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle) is headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, making it the administrative center of francophone African IP protection.

Which countries does OAPI cover? ▾

Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Togo — all 17 automatically covered.

Cameroon is bilingual — what language is used for OAPI filings? ▾

OAPI's primary working language is French, but English filings are also accepted. As OAPI HQ, Cameroon has ample OAPI-accredited agent resources.

PCT deadline for OAPI designation? ▾

30 months.

How does an OAPI patent differ from a national patent? ▾

OAPI patents replace national patents — within OAPI member states, there is no separate national patent grant; all protection flows through the unified OAPI system.

Is Cameroon a WTO member? ▾

Yes, Cameroon joined WTO in 1995.

Is a local agent required? ▾

Foreign applicants must use an OAPI-accredited agent; many such agents are based in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Which sectors most need IP in Cameroon? ▾

Petroleum and gas, forestry (timber branding), cocoa and coffee export branding, telecoms, and consumer goods.

Official Reference Sources

Sources for This Page

OAPI Official Website www.oapi.int WIPO — Cameroon www.wipo.int/members/en/details.jsp?country_id=28

Content based on official sources above, last reviewed: 2026-04. In case of discrepancy with the latest official publications, official sources prevail.

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