Gabon
Gabon’s Patent System
Gabon’s Patent Office
Gabon is a country on the west coast of central Africa. Along with fifteen other African countries, Gabon is a part of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI), an international union with a singular intellectual property system. The OAPI Office, which governs the registration process for the entire OAPI, is located in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Obtaining a Patent in Gabon
The only way to obtain a patent in Gabon is through the OAPI. Applications can be submitted directly to the OAPI in French or English. If an application survives the examination process, it issues as a patent. Patents issued by the OAPI are automatically extended to each member country without separate designation.
Patents can also be obtained in Gabon through PCT international filings. The OAPI is a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty and can be entered as a national stage.