On 9 July 2026, OAPI and IFRRO signed a new 2026-2027 work plan in Geneva, with the centre of gravity shifting toward platform compliance, private-copying remuneration and stronger collective management in the digital environment. According to the official announcement, the next phase will support copyright infrastructure, educational and online-copying remuneration mechanisms, and customs-facing enforcement channels in member states including Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire. The practical direction is clear: OAPI’s 17 member states are moving from general copyright protection language toward a framework that is more traceable, billable and enforceable in digital markets.
The more important signal here is not the renewal itself but where regulation is heading. Platforms, content distributors and education service providers may soon face pressure not only on infringement exposure, but also on licensing chains, remuneration accounting, source tracking and local compliance review. For businesses active in West and Central African content markets, it would be sensible to revisit platform terms, permissions and content-use records now, before these mechanisms harden into day-to-day enforcement expectations.
