The protection of patent rights, trademarks and brand names have considerably increased in Cameroon in the last five years.

This analysis was made on 13th September 2014, during celebrations of the 15th African day for intellectual property rights.

According to records from the African Organisation of Intellectual Property (OAPI), the greatest increase has been at the level of commercial names.

Over 250 companies have registered their names in 2013 as against 185 five years ago, leading to a total of 1210 registered names so far.

Registered trademarks on the other hand experienced a 20% increase in 2013 as opposed to 2012. Meanwhile, the protection of patents rights registered just a 10% increase.

According to Mr Magui Nnoko Koubitobo, Industrial Property expert, there is a need to improve selling strategies, especially with the help of the brand name. To him, the brand name has to be attractive and adapted to the product in question.

It should be recalled that since 2013, Cameroon has been implementing the National Development Plan of Intellectual Property, which is geared at maximizing sales of home-made products.

The 15th African day for intellectual property rights was organised on the theme “Intellectual Property and Food Security in Africa” activities focused on the agricultural sector which is in dire need of selling produce .