We have been advised that the Republic of Equatorial Guinea deposited its instrument of accession to the Bangui Agreement to become a member of the African Organization for Intellectual Property (O.A.P.I.), with effect from November 23, 2000. Therefore, O.A.P.I. registrations obtained after November 23, 2000 will be protected automatically in Equatorial Guinea. We have also been advised that O.A.P.I. applications for patents or to protect trademarks filed prior to November 23, 2000 will be extendible to Equatorial Guinea and that the term to comply with the extension procedure will expire on May 23, 2002.