Gabon - Register a TradeMark

ProcedureEdit

1.An applicant starts by selecting a trademark that seems most appropriate and suitable for his / her goods / services. The trader ensures that the chosen trademark meets all the characteristic of trademark eligible to be registered;

2.Then the applicant continues with deciding to either contact a trademark agent to assist in the process of applying or to do it him / herself. If the applicant decides to use an agent, he / she must ensure that the chosen agent is authorized to do so;

3.The applicant then proceeds with carrying out a comprehensive study and trademark search, and his is done to assess eligibility and availability of trademark. If the applicant contacted a trademark agent, the agent helps in the processes of carrying out the comprehensive study and trademark search;

4.If the trademark is found eligible to be registered, the applicant (together with agent if contacted) prepares all the necessary documents and files application at the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI). Central Office in Yaounde (Cameroon);

5.When documents are filed, they are examined and assessed. If the trademark meets all requirements and there is no indication of possible identical or similar trademarks, the trademark is approved and registered at the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI);

6.After registration, a registered trademark is published in the official Trademark Bulletin for a period of six (6) months from the date of publication. This is done to allow any person who may oppose registration submit his / her objection to the authorities;

7.When no objection is submitted, the trademark is fully registered and recognized in all member countries of the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI);

Required DocumentsEdit

1.Identification documents of trademark owner

2.Copies of trademark

3.Registration certificate for the business / applicant;

4.Trading license for the business / applicant;

5.A list of goods / services provided

6.Payment slips;

7.Power of attorney (if a trademark agent is used)

8.Authorization document from original owner (if trademark was originally owned by someone else

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Centre de Propriete Industrielle du Gabon (CEPIG)

Ministre du Commerce et du Dveloppement Industriel Charg du NEPAD

B.P. 237 LIBREVILLE

Telephone No.: (241) 74 59 24

Fax: (241) 76 30 55

EligibilityEdit

Traders / enterprises are eligible to register trademark if the trademark meets requirements

FeesEdit

1.Trademark Registration Prices in OAPI in USD are as below

(i)Trademark comprehensive study

One (1) class approximately US$ 515
Each additional class approximately US$ 138

(ii)Trademark registration request

One (1) to three (3) classes approximately US$ 1514
Each additional class approximately US$ 215

(iii)Publications in colour approximately US$ 150

Trademark Application Fees in Euros

(i)Official fees for up to three classes approximately EUR 610,

(ii)Each addition class approximately EUR 125

(iii)For a coloured trademark approximately EUR 75

ValidityEdit

1.Ten (10) years;

2.A trader can use trademark forever as long as he / she renews validity every after Ten (10) years

Documents to UseEdit

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

Nine (9) twelve (12) months

InstructionsEdit

1.When a trademark is registered, it is recognized in all the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI) member countries;

2.Applicants are argued to choose trademarks that are distinctive and not be deceptive;

3.Ensure that a chosen trademark does not resemble any other trademark of any another trader;

4.Ensure that a chosen trademark can be used worldwide without changing meaning;

5.A registered trademark can only be used on goods / services of which it was registered for;

6.Always choose a trademark that are easy to reproduce, not misleading and cannot cause confusion to the public;

7.A trademark must be easy to pronounce, easy to spell and easy to remember if it is in form of a word;

8.A registered trademark cannot be shared / used by different traders;

9.Always renew trademark if registration expires;

10.Late renewal should be within six (6) months after the expiry date and is done with an addition late renewal fees;

11.Trademarks in Gabon are registered at the OAPI level;

12.Applicants must be aware that in the trademark, OAPI member countries are treated as one state;

13.Like any other OAPI member country, Gabon has no national trademark law;

14.It is not possible to register a trademark at the national level;

15.Trademark protection can only be obtained after registration;

16.Applicants must know that trademark protection can only be obtained after registration;

17.A chosen trademark must be visible;

18.A trademark must have the capacity to distinguish the goods / services of a given trader from the variety in the market;

19.Applicants who wish to use trademarks agents must be aware of existence of fraud;

20.Applicants must ensure that a chosen trademark agent is registered and legally authorized to provide such services;

21.The applicant who chooses to use a trademark agent must give the agent legal powers to represent him / her;

22.Different power of attorney must be prepared for different trademark applications;

23.Applicants can submit multiple-class applications at the same;

24.Applicants are argued to submit separate applications for goods and services;

25.An officially registered trademark is legally restricted to the use of the owner;

26.Logos submitted with trademarks are always published in black and white;

27.Publications in colour are done at an additional cost;

Required InformationEdit

1.Name of applicant / trademark owner

2.Physical and contact address of trademark owner

3.Nationality of applicant / trademark owner

4.Particulars / specifications of the products or services the trademark is intended for or is used with

5.Trademark

6.Desired trademark class

Need for the DocumentEdit

A trademark is a symbol, name, or other text or device that identifies a product on the market. In Gabon registration of trademarks is done according to the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI). It is a union of French speaking African countries of which Gabon is also inclusive. Registration of trademarks with the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI) in Gabon is done through Centre de Propriete Industrielle du Gabon (CEPIG) - Ministre du Commerce et du Dveloppement Industriel Charg du NEPAD

Information which might helpEdit

1.Member countries of the Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI) are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, and Togo;

2.Organization Africaine de la Propriete Intellectuelle (OAPI) has two (2) kinds of trademark registration namely:-

Class 1 to Class 34 for products; and
Class 35 to Class 42 for services;

3.Registration may be cancelled if a trademark is not used within five (5) years from registration or if it has not been used for a continuous period of 5 years;

External LinksEdit

http://www.marcaria.com/Gabon/trademarks/default.htm

http://www.marcaria.com/Gabon/trademarks/Gabon-trademark-registration-process.htm

http://www.marcaria.com/register/trademarkprices.asp?country=OAPI

http://www.country-index.com/agreement.aspx?ID=3

http://www.ipmirror.com/news/launches/register-ga-gabon-domain-name

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.