Intellectual Property Law Firm in Douala, Cameroon and the OAPI Jurisdiction
Worldwide Intellectual Property Network (WIPNET Global)
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B.P. 4876 Douala Immeuble Pharmacie Bell, Face SGBC Bali Douala Cameroon |
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+237 33426479
+237 33432634
www.wipnetglobal.com
Contact Mr. Nico Halle
Law Firm Overview
The Worldwide Intellectual Property Network (WIPNET Global) is a Department of the Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm which has been established in a bid to meeting up with clients’ increasing demands as far as Intellectual Property matters are concerned. The satisfaction of our clients remains our leitmotiv.
WIPNET Global comprises top, leading, experienced Licensed Intellectual Property (IP) Attorneys, Accredited IP Agents and specialists who are unrivaled in Cameroon and the entire OAPI jurisdiction, each specialized in a particular area of Intellectual Property such as Trademarks, Patents, Copyright, Design, Utility Models, etc. We have combined experience with commitment and professionalism to translate our vision into concrete action.
WIPNET Global has been designed to translate into concrete action the ever-increasing desire of the Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm to render top quality, diligent, expeditious, cost-effective and professional intellectual property services to her clients.
As a Department of the Nico Halle & Co. Law Firm, we operate in the African Intellectual Property Organization (better known and called by its French acronym OAPI) jurisdiction, which comprises 16 member Central and West African countries: the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, the Republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of Gabon, the Republic of Guinea – Bissau, the Republic of Guinea – Conakry, the Republic of Mali, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Senegal and the Republic of Togo. The Headquarters of OAPI is in Cameroon. It should be noted that a Trademark registered in OAPI has an effect (covered) in all the 16 member states.
Year this Office was Established: 1986
Languages: English and French
Practice Areas
Additional Practice Areas: Trademark Protection, Collective Marks, Certificate of Registration, Commercial Names, Industrial Designs, Industrial Models, Utility Models, Industrial Property Rights, Annuity Services, Trademark Audits, Trademark Valuation, Domain Name Registrations, Infringements
Practice Areas Description
The Worldwide Intellectual Property Network (WIPNET Global) provides legal services in:- Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property is a term which denotes specific legal rights which authors, inventors and other intellectual property title holders may hold and exercise with respect to their creation(s) or invention(s). Intellectual Property seeks to confer a bundle of exclusive rights in relation to the particular form or manner in which ideas are expressed and not in relation to the ideas themselves. It is therefore a product of human ingenuity and fruits of personal creativity and inventiveness that have commercial value. Intellectual Property (IP) generally is sub-divided into two main branches: Industrial Property and Copyright & related rights and other sui generis forms of IP Protection.
- Trademarks
At OAPI, both service and product marks are protected. This is the commonest and main industrial property right granted to applicants. What is considered a Trademark (product and service) at OAPI is any visible sign used or intended to be used and capable of distinguishing the goods or services of any enterprise. These include particular surnames by themselves or in a distinctive form, special arbitrary or fanciful designations, the characteristic form of a product or its packaging labels, wrappers, emblems, prints, stamps, seals, vignettes, borders, combinations or arrangements of colors, drawings, relief, letters, numbers, devices and pseudonyms.
- Patents
A Patent is an exclusive right granted for the protection of an invention. The patent provides its owner with the exclusive right to prevent others from commercially exploiting the invention for a limited period of time in return for disclosing the invention to the public. Patents are granted at OAPI to protect ideas that permit a specific problem in a technological field to be solved in practice. This idea must be the invention of some physical person. The conditions of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability must be met before a patent is granted.
- Commercial Names
A Trade name is a distinctive sign used in commerce to differentiate between one establishment and another. Trade name means the name under which a commercial, industrial, handicraft or agricultural establishment is known and operated. What is not considered as a trade name: Name or designation which by its nature or use to which it may be put is contrary to public order and morality and which in particular could mislead commercial circles or the public as to the nature of the commercial, industrial, handicraft or agricultural establishment designated by such name shall not be considered a Trade name.
- Industrial Designs / Models
Designs are any arrangement of lines or colors. Models are any three dimensional shaped objects whether or not associated with colors or lines, provided the said arrangement or shape gives a special appearance to an industrial or craft product and may serve as a pattern for the manufacture of such a product. Any creator of an industrial design and his successors in title shall have the exclusive right to exploit the said design and to sell or cause to be sold for industrial or commercial purposes the goods in which the design is incorporated.
- Geographical Indications
This means an indication that serves to identify a product as originating from a territory, a region, or a locality within that territory, in those cases where the quality, reputation or other specific characteristic of the product may be essential attributed to such geographical origin.
- Utility Models
These are implements of work or objects to be utilized or parts of such implements or objects in so far as they are useful for the work or employment for which they are intended on account of a new configuration, a new arrangement or a new competent device, and are industrially applicable. We require the following for the application at OAPI: A detailed description of the invention; The claims; The drawings, if any; The abstract of the invention; The priority documents, if any; The assignment of priority documents, if any; A Power of Attorney; The payment of OAPI charges and our Agency fees.
- Searches for Industrial Property Rights
We effect searches on all aspects of industrial property rights protected in OAPI. For Trademarks, verbal and figurative similarity searches are conducted against anterior marks. For Patents, we conduct searches to ascertain their prior existence. Search results are delivered within 10 working days, everything being equal.
- Renewals / Annuity Services
As already mentioned, trademarks are protected for a period of ten (10) years, renewable as many times as possible. Thus we keep a track record of Trademark registrations and do notify our clients at least a year to the renewal dates. Upon their confirmation, we then go ahead to renew the said marks in their last year of protection to ward off penalties or risk of losing such rights. With regard to annuity payments, we monitor and pay annuities for Patents and Utility models on behalf of applicants and owners who assign us. The main requirement for renewal is a copy of the Registration Certificate of the said Trademark on which all the vital information is inscribed. A Power of Attorney is also needed. With regard to annuity payments, just the proof of payment is required accompanied by a forwarding correspondence.
- Trademark Audits and Valuation
A Trademark as the identity of a business establishment must be well protected. Even though this is done, there still arise trademark infringements necessitating claims for damages by the aggrieved party. These damages must be reflective of the popularity of the mark. Thus as experts, we evaluate the popularity of a given mark in the OAPI region. We also audit the impact caused to owners of infringed brands especially when seizures are effected.
- Rights Enforcement and Litigation
We represent clients to enforce their rights on Trademarks and Patents before OAPI and the judicial courts. This is common with cases of unfair competition. Before the local courts we initiate confiscation proceedings, obtain injunction orders and organize raids.
- Domain Name Registrations
Domain names are the identities of web sites, i.e. the names used to identify web sites. In Cameroon, the Country Code Top Level Domain is the “.cm”. Any person resident in Cameroon or abroad can apply for a “.cm” domain name upon proving ownership or license to use the name. The registrations in Cameroon are done at the Cameroon Telecommunications Company (CAMTEL) against paying the requested fees and annual recurrent charges.
- Recordals in Special Registers
We effect recordals on any Industrial Property rights affecting ownership, benefit of rights or change of location of the owners and applicants of the said right. Common recordals include Change of name of owners, addresses, security recordals and assignments. Justifying documents are always requested or proof of any recordal. These proofs must be notarized to uphold their authentic value.
- Oppositions and Restorations
In the OAPI region, litigation on infringement of rights usually commences with opposition. An opposition is a petition lodged at OAPI requesting that another industrial property right which infringes on yours should be annulled. Thus a trademark registration which is likely to be associated to yours can be opposed. We prepare the opposition proceedings and seize the competent Commission at OAPI for withdrawal of the right conferred, upon payment of the necessary OAPI charges and our Agency fee and honorarium. With regard to restoration, when owners of industrial property rights lose those rights at OAPI due to either failure to pay certain taxes (annuities), provision of certain documents, etc. we represent them in applying for and justifying the need of the restoration of the said rights within the prescribed time limits.
Partners
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Mr. Nico Halle
Head of WIPNET Global Intellectual Property |
Associates
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Mr. Fon Donald
Associate Intellectual Property, Trademark |
Ms. Rosaline Fambove
Associate Intellectual Property |
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Mr. Halle John Halle
Associate Intellectual Property |
Maître Danielle Moukouri
Head of Patents Department Intellectual Property |
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Maître Cynthia Akueya Nchaw
Head of Trademarks Department Intellectual Property |
Maître Mustapha Ngouana
Assistant Manager Intellectual Property |
More Information on Worldwide Intellectual Property Network (WIPNET Global)
WIPNET Global's ClientsDouala, Cameroon Intellectual Property Law Firm
Intellectual Property Lawyer in Douala, Cameroon
Contact Worldwide Intellectual Property Network (WIPNET Global)
