English
The Office National de la Propriété Intellectuelle (ONPI) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the governing body responsible for the protection of intellectual property rights in the country. ONPI administers the registration and management of trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. As a member of international intellectual property treaties such as the WIPO Convention, TRIPS Agreement, and Paris Convention, the Democratic Republic of the Congo adheres to global standards for intellectual property protection. Trademark registration can only be handled through "single country registration". as the country is not yet a party to the Madrid Protocol or the Madrid Agreement. The registration process includes application, examination, publication, approval, and issuance of certificates, with a registration period of 9-12 months and a validity of 10 years from the date of application.
