Intellectual Property Laws at Cameroon

21 Mar 2025 --
0 Comments

Cameroon’s Intellectual Property (IP) laws are governed primarily by regional treaties under the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), along with national enforcement mechanisms. Cameroon is a member state of OAPI, which means most IP rights are granted and managed at the regional level, not individually by each member country.

Here’s a full breakdown of the IP landscape in Cameroon:

🌍 Cameroon & OAPI

Cameroon is a member of OAPI (Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle), headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon. OAPI handles:

Patents

Trademarks

Industrial designs

Utility models

Geographical indications

Plant varieties

And more

▶ Key law: Bangui Agreement (Act of December 14, 2015) — the main legal framework for IP protection in OAPI countries.

🇨🇲 IP Rights in Cameroon (via OAPI)

📚 1. Copyright (Droit d’Auteur)

What it protects: Literary, artistic, and scientific works (books, music, software, art, etc.)

Automatic protection: Yes — no registration needed.

Duration: Life of the author + 70 years.

Governing body: National Copyright Commission (Ministry of Arts and Culture).

Registration: Optional but recommended — can help in enforcement.

®️ 2. Trademarks (Marques de Fabrique)

What it protects: Logos, names, slogans, shapes, and other identifiers of goods/services.

Registration required: Yes — through OAPI.

Duration: 10 years, renewable indefinitely.

Governing law: Bangui Agreement Annex III.

Territorial coverage: Valid across all OAPI member countries (17 in total).

💡 3. Patents (Brevets d’Invention)

What it protects: Inventions, products, processes that are new, involve an inventive step, and are industrially applicable.

Registration required: Yes — through OAPI.

Duration: 20 years from filing date.

Governing law: Bangui Agreement Annex I.

⚙️ 4. Utility Models (Certificats d’Utilité)

What it protects: Minor inventions or innovations with industrial application.

Registration: Through OAPI.

Duration: 8 years.

Governing law: Bangui Agreement Annex II.

🎨 5. Industrial Designs (Dessins et Modèles Industriels)

What it protects: Aesthetic or visual aspects of products (shape, form, color, etc.)

Registration required: Yes — through OAPI.

Duration: 5 years, renewable up to 15 years.

Governing law: Bangui Agreement Annex IV.

🌱 6. Plant Variety Protection

What it protects: New plant varieties that are distinct, uniform, and stable.

Registration: Yes — via OAPI.

Duration: 20 to 25 years, depending on plant type.

Governing law: Bangui Agreement Annex X.

🧀 7. Geographical Indications (Indications Géographiques)

What it protects: Products linked to a specific geographic origin (e.g., Penja pepper).

Registration: Required through OAPI.

Duration: Indefinite, as long as quality and origin standards are maintained.

Governing law: Bangui Agreement Annex VI.

🤐 8. Trade Secrets

What it protects: Confidential business information, formulas, know-how, etc.

No formal registration: Protected by civil and commercial law principles.

Protection: As long as reasonable measures are taken to maintain secrecy.

🏛️ Administration & Enforcement in Cameroon

OAPI: Central registration body for most IP rights. Rights granted by OAPI are valid across all 17 member states.

National courts in Cameroon: Handle litigation and enforcement (e.g., infringement, counterfeiting).

Customs & Police: Can be involved in enforcement at borders and within the country.

Ministry of Arts and Culture: Oversees copyright issues.

📄 Summary Table

IP Type	Registration Required	Duration	Registration Authority
Copyright	❌ (optional)	Life + 70 years	Ministry of Arts & Culture
Trademark	✅	10 years (renewable)	OAPI
Patent	✅	20 years	OAPI
Utility Model	✅	8 years	OAPI
Industrial Design	✅	Up to 15 years	OAPI
Plant Variety	✅	20–25 years	OAPI
Geographical Indication	✅	Indefinite	OAPI
Trade Secrets	❌	Indefinite	Protected under civil law