In 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in cooperation with the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) with support from the Funds-In-Trust Japan Industrial Property Global, completed a digitization project of IP documents (patents, trademarks, industrial designs) of OAPI.
The project aimed to
- Improve accessibility to documents during the examination and processing of applications and registrations;
- Secure and preserve IP files by making them available in both physical and digital form;
- Facilitate the exchange of IP data at the regional and international levels; and
- Enhance IP process governance, transparency, and accountability.
Under this project, approximately 4.3 million pages of patents, trademarks, and industrial design documents were digitized. All physical records were scanned, indexed, and entered into the IPAS EDMS database. Missing bibliographical data were added, and the legal status of records was updated, resulting in a complete and digitally preserved database that accelerates processing times and improves the quality of research.
The completion of this project marks a significant milestone for OAPI, modernizing its record-keeping system and enhancing operational efficiency. It will help streamline operations and improve service delivery to OAPI’s 17 Member States.