Madrid System: More Contracting Countries

From March 5, 2015, it will be possible to apply for a trademark in all the 17 countries members of OAPI by filing a single international application at a national IP office of a country that is party to the Madrid System for the international registration of marks. In fact, on December 5, 2014, OAPI has joined the Madrid Protocol for the International Registration of Marks. OAPI is the main organization for the protection of intellectual property rights in most African French speaking countries. The countries member of OAPI are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, the Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and Togo. During 2015, also Canada should join the Madrid System.