News & Insights
When Is Emotional Distress Sufficient to Ground a Claim for Damages?
Claims for damages arising from emotional shock are often pursued without a full appreciation of the legal requirements that must be satisfied for success. One requirement in particular is frequently overlooked: the plaintiff must prove, through expert psychiatric evidence, that they have suffered a detectable psychiatric injury as opposed to mere emotional distress. The recent […]
March 09 2026
Trade Marks for Side Hustles: When to Spend and When to Wait
Side hustles usually begin quietly. They are the kinds of small, informal businesses people build alongside their main job or studies, often beginning with a simple concept and a name you quickly settle on before setting up an Instagram account to share your first products with people who already know you. At that stage, spending […]
March 09 2026
Beyond the Certificate: What a Trade Mark Gives You and How Its Value Is Calculated
Securing a trade mark registration feels like a turning point for any business. It signifies the moment your brand moves from being just an idea to being an asset recognised by law. Even so, many owners are left wondering what the practical implications are. Apart from the statutory recognition it provides, a trade mark holds […]
March 06 2026
“Positive” for seven years: the human cost of an HIV misdiagnosis
Background The High Court of Uganda, sitting at Jinja, delivered a noteworthy judgment in an HIV misdiagnosis and medical negligence case on 18 February 2026. Facts In July 2016, the Plaintiff attended the Defendant’s facility for HIV testing and was diagnosed as HIV positive. He was immediately enrolled on antiretroviral therapy (ARVs), which he took […]
March 03 2026
Protecting Your IP When Every Meeting Is Recorded
As AI powered meeting tools become increasingly common, businesses are beginning to rely on AI agents to record, transcribe, and summarise discussions. AI tools represent a significant opportunity to protect, manage, and create value in know-how which traditionally has not been recorded in meetings. However, such use also raises serious concerns about the protection of […]
March 03 2026
Compulsory Mediation in the Gauteng Division: A 10-month Implementation Review
10-Months into Operation Ten months have passed since the Judge President of the Gauteng Division of the High Court introduced a directive making mediation compulsory before the allocation and retention of civil trial dates. The main objective of the directive was to address the severe backlog in the civil trial roll and to restore the […]
February 27 2026
Copyright meets Insurance Coverage: insurance protection in the Age of Intellectual Property risk – Lessons from the US judgment
Background This piece pertains to a recent matter that was heard in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The judgment was delivered on 10 February 2026. Facts The Plaintiff, a real estate agency, was engaged principally in the brokering of residential real estate. It purchased a Real Estate Agents Errors and […]
February 27 2026
When Does a Business Rescue Practitioner Become Personally Liable for a Company's Debts?
In the realm of business rescue, where financially distressed companies are given an opportunity for rehabilitation, a critical question arises: when does the conduct of a business rescue practitioner cross the threshold from mere error or misjudgement into personal liability for the company’s debts? The recent Supreme Court of Appeal judgement in Africa Agriculture and […]
February 26 2026
Leading African law firm Adams & Adams announces new leadership team
26 Feb 2026, Pretoria Leading African law firm, Adams & Adams has announced the election of its new leadership team under a refreshed management structure championed by outgoing chairperson Kelly Thompson. Dispute resolution partner Jac Marais assumes the role of chairperson from 1 March 2026 for a four-year term. Under his leadership of the commercial, […]
February 26 2026
Can a Professional Evade Accountability by Cancelling Their Registration?
In an age where professional accountability is paramount to public protection, a pressing question emerges: can a registered professional escape disciplinary proceedings simply by cancelling their registration? The recent case of Pienaar v Engineering Council of South Africa and Others provides a definitive answer to this question, examining the interplay between voluntary deregistration and ongoing […]
February 24 2026
THE DESTRUCTION OF COUNTERFEIT GOODS AND SOUTH AFRICAN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW
The global trade in counterfeit goods continues to pose substantial risks to economies, consumers, and the environment. While discussions on counterfeiting often focus on intellectual property infringement and market distortion, an equally pressing concern is the environmental impact associated with destroying counterfeit products. International bodies such as the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World […]
February 18 2026
Zambia Ushers in a New Era with Its Modernised Trade Marks Act
Important Topics Zambia has enacted the Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023, fully replacing the country’s 1958 Act. Zambia Ushers in a New Era with Its Modernised Trade Marks Act Zambia has entered 2026 with a major structural overhaul of its trade mark legislation. The Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023, effective 31 […]
February 18 2026
Tanzania Implements Mandatory Trade Mark Recordal for Imported Goods
Additional Topics: Mainland Tanzania has introduced a compulsory trade mark recordal system. Tanzania Implements Mandatory Trade Mark Recordal for Imported Goods Mainland Tanzania has introduced a compulsory trade mark recordal regime that affects all trade marked goods imported into the country. Effective 1 December 2025, trade marks must be recorded with the Chief Inspector of […]
February 18 2026
Court of Appeal Rules ARIPO Trade Marks Unenforceable in Tanzania
Important Topics A landmark ruling confirms that ARIPO trademarks have no legal effect in Tanzania unless the Banjul Protocol is domesticated into national law. Court of Appeal Rules ARIPO Trade Marks Unenforceable in Tanzania In a significant ruling delivered on 26 September 2025 and reported on 18 December, Tanzania’s Court of Appeal confirmed that ARIPO […]
February 18 2026
Sudan’s IP Office has returned to Khartoum
While the Sudan Trade Mark Office has returned to Khartoum, normal operations remain suspended. Important Topics Sudan’s IP Office has returned to Khartoum The Sudan Trademark Office has relocated back to Khartoum, but not to its main headquarters. It is operating from an alternative location under the same temporary protocols previously used in Port Sudan, […]
February 18 2026
South Africa Adopts the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification
Important Topics As of 1 January 2026, South Africa has implemented the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification. South Africa Adopts the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification Following, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Official Circular No. 37/2025, announcing the implementation of the 13th edition of the Nice Classification, South Africa has adopted the […]
February 18 2026
Major South African Anti‑Counterfeiting Operation Targets Illicit Lubricant Manufacturing
Additional Topics: Major Anti‑Counterfeiting Operation Targets Illicit Lubricant Manufacturing (January 2026). Major South African Anti‑Counterfeiting Operation Targets Illicit Lubricant Manufacturing Adams & Adams’ Anti‑Counterfeiting Team, in partnership with the South African Police Service, executed a major raid targeting counterfeit lubricants in early January 2026. The collaboration between Adams & Adams’ Anti‑Counterfeiting Team and specialised SAPS […]
February 18 2026
New Trade Mark Regulations Now in Effect
Important Topics Sierra Leone has introduced modernised trade mark procedures, effective immediately, bringing greater clarity for brand owners. New Trade Mark Regulations Now in Effect Sierra Leone’s Trade Marks Regulations, 2024 officially took effect following their publication as Statutory Instrument No. 19 of 2024, marking a major upgrade to the country’s trade mark system. The new […]
February 18 2026