Launching a mobile app in Cameroon is an exciting step for any founder, whether you’re building a fintech solution, a content platform, or a logistics service. But beyond the coding and UI design, there are important legal considerations to keep your product, users, and business safe from day one.
Here’s what you need to know, with references to Cameroon’s existing laws and regional systems like OHADA and OAPI.
1. Start with Legal Registration (OHADA Framework)
To operate a mobile app as a business in Cameroon, you need to be legally recognized. Cameroon follows the OHADA (Organisation for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa) system, which governs how businesses are formed and managed in member states.
This means:
- You must register your business at the Centre de Formalités de Création d’Entreprises (CFCE) or the relevant local authorities.
- Most startups choose to incorporate as a société à responsabilité limitée (SARL) for limited liability and flexible ownership.
This is also essential for signing contracts, receiving investment, and issuing invoices.
2. Protect Your Brand and Code
Cameroon is part of the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI). If your app has a name, logo, interface, or original content, it’s a business asset worth protecting.
- Trademark your app name and logo through OAPI
- Ensure contracts clarify who owns the code, especially when using freelancers or collaborators
- Use only licensed material (open-source libraries, images, sounds) and understand the terms
Barrister Danielle Moukouri, an OAPI-certified IP expert, regularly assists startups in securing and enforcing their rights across the region.
3. Use Terms of Use and Privacy Policies
If your app sells services or collects user data, Cameroon’s E-Commerce Law applies. This law requires that businesses operating online provide:
- Clear Terms of Use: what the app does, user responsibilities, conditions for termination or suspension
- Privacy Policies: how personal data is collected, stored, and shared
These policies must be accessible and written in simple language. They help protect your business from liability and support user trust.
4. Comply with Cybersecurity Rules
Cameroon’s Cybersecurity and Cybercrime Law gives legal recognition to digital communications, electronic contracts, and electronic signatures.
It also requires businesses to:
- Protect users’ data
- Secure online systems and prevent unauthorized access
- Take responsibility for content hosted or distributed through digital platforms
If your app processes personal data (even names, emails, or locations), you must ensure reasonable security measures are in place.
5. Consumer Protection Still Applies
Even digital platforms must follow Cameroon’s Consumer Protection Law. That means:
- No misleading advertisements or service claims
- Transparent pricing and billing
- Clear channels for resolving complaints
If your app provides paid services, subscriptions, or digital products, this law is relevant.
6. Watch the Data Landscape, Even Without a Formal Law
Cameroon does not yet have a standalone data protection law, but:
- Existing provisions in the Cybercrime Law cover certain data rights
- Cameroon has signed the Malabo Convention on Cybersecurity and Personal Data Protection, signaling stronger regulation ahead
Even in the absence of a full law, adopting international best practices such as user consent, encryption, and secure storage, prepares your app for future compliance and builds user trust.
7. Secure Your Business with Contracts
From co-founders and developers to influencers and partners, every relationship should be backed by a written agreement. Contracts help clarify:
- Ownership of work and IP
- Payment terms and deliverables
- Confidentiality and dispute resolution
Don’t rely on verbal promises or WhatsApp messages — proper documentation reduces risk and boosts your credibility.
Tech Needs Legal Backbone
A mobile app is more than a product; it’s a business. And like any business, it needs a sound legal foundation. From registration to data protection, Cameroonian law offers a framework that, when followed properly, can help your startup grow securely and professionally.
For tailored guidance, especially as your app scales or enters cross-border markets, you can consult D. Moukouri & Partners. We have expertise in tech law, startup advisory, intellectual property, data protection, and regulatory compliance across OAPI and African jurisdictions.
