IP/N/1/CAF/3  
IP/N/1/CAF/T/1  
11 May 2021 
(21-3990) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual 
Property Rights  Original:  French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS UNDER  
ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT  
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: DECREE (NO. 17.374) ON THE PROTECTION OF  
TRADE NAMES IN THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC  
Notifying Member  CENTRAL  AFRICAN  REPUBLIC  
Details of the notified legal text  
Title Decree  (No. 17.374) on the protection of trade names in the Central African 
Republic  
Subject matter  Trademarks  
Nature of 
notification  [X] Main dedicated intellectual property law or regulation  
[  ] Other law or regulation  
Link to legal text*  https://ip -documents.info/2021/IP/CAF/21_3354_00_f.pdf  
Notification status  [X] First notification  
[  ] Amendment or revision to notified legal text  
[  ] Replacement or consolidation of notified legal text(s)  
Previous 
notification(s) 
referred to  Not applicable  
Brief description of the notified legal text  
 
The aim of the text adopted by the Central African Republic falls within the framework of the 
implementation of the Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights by WTO 
Members.  
 
(Articles 1 and 2 of the Decree ) 
 
Article 1 : The protection of the trade name s of all commercial, artisanal, agricultural,  industrial and 
service -provid ing establishments is mandatory throughout the national territory.  
 
"Trade name" refers to the name under which a commercial, industrial, artisanal or agricultural 
establishment is known and operates.  
 
Article 2 : All natural o r legal person s engaged in an industrial, commercial, agricultural, artisanal or  
service -providing activity must register their trade name at the National Liaison Body  with the African 
Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry.  
Language(s) of 
notified legal text  French 
Entry into force  3 November 2 017: Contra ct in effect since signature  
Other date  Adoption : 3 November 2 017 IP/N/1/CAF/3 • IP/N/1/CAF/T/1  
- 2 - 
  Notification details  
 
Submission date 
of notification  5 May 2 021 
Other information  31bis_trips_e.pdf (wto.org)  - Agreement on Trade -Related Aspects of 
Intellectual Property Rights (as amended on 2 3 January 2 017) 
 
http://www.oapi.int/Ressources/Actes_OAPI/Declaration_Dakar.pdf  - Dakar 
Declaration of 6 November 2 008 
 
http://www.oapi.int/index.php/fr/oapi/cadre -juridique/accord -de-bangui  - 
Bangui Agreement of 2 March 1 977 
 
Agency or 
authority 
responsible  Ministère du Commerce et de l'Industrie (Ministry of Trade and Industry):  
B.P.: 1988 Bangui (CAR)  
 
Tel.:   (+236) 21 61 10 55  
Fax:   (+236) 21 61 76 53  
Email:  infos@minco -rca.org  
 
Gervais NADJI -NDOLOMBAYE  
Directeur du Commerce Extérieur  (Director of Foreign Trade) (WTO contact 
point for notifications)  
B.P: 1580 B angui (CAR)  
 
Tel:   (+236) 75 03 46 69  
Email:  gervaisndol@yahoo.fr  
 
Joseph KOLEGWI -NZAKPE  
Directeur de la Propriété Industrielle  (Director of Industrial Property)  
Email  : kolegwi2005@yahoo.fr  
 
 
 
* Links are provided to texts of laws and regulations notified under the TRIPS Agreement in the form 
supplied by the Member concerned; the WTO Secretariat does not endorse or revise their content.