News & Insights
Constitutional Court Delivers Landmark but Incomplete Copyright Ruling. Parliament Must Now Seize the Opportunity to Modernise South Africa’s Copyright Law for the AI Era
JOHANNESBURG — On 26 June 2026, the Constitutional Court of South Africa handed down its long-awaited judgment in Ex Parte President of the Republic of South Africa: In re Constitutionality of the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill (CCT 306/24). The majority judgment, authored by Justice Mhlantla, marks the first time the […]
July 13 2026
Competition Commission to examine competition dynamics in franchising sector
On 26 June 2026, the Competition Commission published draft Terms of Reference for a proposed market inquiry into South Africa’s franchising sector. The market inquiry is initiated because the Commission believes that features in the industry may impede, distort or restrict competition in the South African franchise industry. The proposed inquiry matters because franchising is […]
July 10 2026
Newsflash: First-Ever SEP Judgment in Africa – Moroccan Court Interdicts Transsion Smartphone Sales
The Casablanca Trade Court on 6 July 2026 handed down what appears to be Africa’s first standard essential patent (SEP) ruling, interdicting two Transsion Holdings subsidiaries, Tecno Mobile Limited and Itel Mobility Limited, from selling 4G and 5G smartphones found to infringe Ericsson cellular patents. The Moroccan proceedings sit within a broader multi-jurisdictional offensive launched […]
July 09 2026
A Slow Burn
The Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill saw additional progress towards the end of June this year. Specifically, the Portfolio Committee on Health adopted a motion of desirability of the bill in an almost unanimous vote at a recent meeting. This means that the committee acknowledged that the legislation is required in principle […]
July 08 2026
Calling Your Bluff
With the prolific rise of online gambling, the trade mark and regulatory landscape is also an area of growing interest worldwide, including in South Africa. In the USA, Kalshi Inc., which describes itself as a “regulated exchange dedicated to trading on the outcome of future events”, previously applied for trade marks covering “Bookmaking services” and […]
July 08 2026
The Battle for Bok Friday: Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Moves Beyond the Field
As temperatures drop around the country, rugby is hotting up. South African rugby fans have plenty to look forward to in 2026, including the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour which will take place from 7 August 2026 to 12 September 2026. The tour will see South Africa hosting the All Blacks as they travel the country […]
July 07 2026
The Logo Behind the Logo: Levi's and the Value of Brand Recognition
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced no shortage of memorable moments. One of the most interesting, however, did not happen on the pitch but it did happen outside a stadium in California, under a white sheet. FIFA’s commercial framework for the World Cup is designed to safeguard the exclusivity enjoyed by its official sponsors. […]
July 06 2026
Acknowledgement of Debt - Promissory note
FACTUAL BACKGROUND The plaintiff issued summons against the defendant for payment of R696,002.42, together with interest and costs. The claim was founded upon an Acknowledgement of Debt (“AOD”) concluded between the parties on 21 July 2020 at Bloemfontein. In terms of the AOD, the defendant acknowledged being truly and lawfully indebted to the plaintiff in […]
June 30 2026
Press release: High Court rules in favour of Novo Nordisk South Africa, halting illicit compounding with immediate effect
The below press release was issued by Novo Nordisk (Pty) Ltd on 24 June 2026. Novo Nordisk is represented in the matter against iDexis by Adams & Adams with lead litigation partner Danie Dohmen assisted by Ramon Pereira. A link to the full judgment in the matter is available here. Legal win for Novo Nordisk South […]
June 24 2026
Patent Office tightens rules for post filing amendments
The Algerian Patent Office (INAPI) has announced that it will enforce current provisions governing the amendment of patent applications more strictly in the future. Amendments must be filed within one month from the filing date. After this, only minor corrections (not substantive amendments) are allowed. Any amendments submitted after this deadline will be rejected and […]
June 17 2026
Cape Verde adopts a new Industrial Property Code
Cape Verde has adopted a new Industrial Property Code, which came into effect on 2 June 2026. The new code aims to modernise the country’s IP legislation and align it with international and regional developments. The most notable updates to the IP framework include: 1. Harmonisation with international and regional treaties The new Industrial Property […]
June 17 2026
Approval of the amendment of the copyright law to recognise WIPO’s Marrakesh Treaty
On 12 May 2026, Tunisia’s parliament (the General Legislation Committee of the Assembly of People’s Representatives) approved amendments to the country’s copyright law (Law No. 36 on Literary and Artistic Property of 1994) to recognise the Marrakesh Treaty. The amendment has been outstanding for almost a decade, as Tunisia acceded to the treaty in 2016. […]
June 17 2026
The All-Africa Intellectual Property Rights Summit returns for its seventh edition
The seventh edition of the annual All Africa Intellectual Property Rights Summit is scheduled to take place in Nairobi, Kenya, from 11 to 13 November 2026. This year’s theme is ‘Mainstreaming Intellectual Property for Africa’s Trade, Industrial and Creative Economy Transformation’. As in previous years, the summit is expected to bring together hundreds of delegates […]
June 17 2026
Pre-Export Certificate of Conformity required for certain unregulated goods imported from China
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa published a Ministerial Directive in March 2026 on the ‘Implementation of a pre-export verification of conformity programme for certain unregulated products imported from the People’s Republic of China’. The programme requires that, from September 2026, certain Chinese imports be accompanied by a Certificate of Conformity […]
June 17 2026
Plant Variety Protection in the spotlight at PVP symposium in Lesotho
Can Plant Variety Protection (PVP) be a catalyst for food security and sustainable agriculture in Africa? ARIPO, together with various stakeholders, including plant breeders, academics and legal experts, explored this question at a symposium held in Lesotho from 20 to 21 May 2026. The broad theme of the meeting was ‘Nurturing Agricultural Innovation: Advancing the […]
June 17 2026
Adams & Adams Maputo (Mozambique) hosts ARIPO officials
On 21 May 2026, Adams & Adams hosted a delegation from ARIPO and the Mozambique Intellectual Property Institute (IPI) at our offices in Maputo. The visit followed the participation of Adams & Adams Mozambique in the ARIPO Online Services Awareness Workshop, held as part of ARIPO’s official mission in Mozambique, between 19 and 21 May […]
June 17 2026
IP Awards 2026
On 30 April 2026, our flagship office in Mozambique, which was established in 2008, participated as the primary sponsor in the fifth edition of the Mozambique IP Awards. The event was held under the auspices of the Mozambique Institute of Industrial Property (IPI) and took place at the Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) campus in Maputo. […]
June 17 2026
Trade Marks, Trust and the GLP-1 Surge
The surge in demand for GLP-1 and GIP medicines—particularly those containing semaglutide and tirzepatide—has created significant commercial opportunity. It has also exposed a growing problem: the manufacture and sale of unregistered and potentially unlawful alternatives. Recent enforcement action by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) highlights the scale of the issue, particularly in […]
June 12 2026