Equat. Guinea Trademark Information

Equatorial Guinea, officially the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, is located on the west coast of Central Africa and is bordered by Cameroon on the north, Gabon on the south and east, and the Gulf of Guinea on the west. The population is estimated at 676,000 with a GDP of $21.52 billion.

Equatorial Guinea gained independence in 1968 after 190 years of Spanish rule. This tiny country, composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands, is one of the smallest on the African continent. President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO has ruled the country since 1979 when he seized power in a coup. Although nominally a constitutional democracy since 1991, the 1996, 2002, and 2009 presidential elections - as well as the 1999 and 2004 legislative elections - were widely seen as flawed. The president exerts almost total control over the political system and has discouraged political opposition. Equatorial Guinea has experienced rapid economic growth due to the discovery of large offshore oil reserves, and in the last decade has become Sub-Saharan Africa's third largest oil exporter. Despite the country's economic windfall from oil production resulting in a massive increase in government revenue in recent years, there have been few improvements in the population's living standards.

Trademarks are assigned through the Council of Scientific and Technological Research, Presidency of the Government. Equatorial Guinea is not a member of the Madrid Protocol and is a member of OAPI. A trademark is valid for 10 years and may be renewed for further periods of 10 years each.