News & Insights
Liberia signs Memorandum of Understanding with Multichoice® Africa, Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Authority
The last month has seen multiple countries on the African continent leading the charge against copyright infringers and content pirates. This includes announcements by the Commerce Ministry in Liberia, as well as the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Ethiopia between MultiChoice® Africa, the Ethiopian Ministry of Culture and Sport (MOCS), as well […]
June 16 2025
Commerce Ministry warns copyright pirates
In a statement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry warned Liberian businesses against the unauthorised commercial use of copyrighted works. In doing so, the Ministry cited widespread violations of the country’s Intellectual Property Act and emphasised that suitable licences must be obtained before making use of any copyrighted works. To reinforce Liberia’s commitment to its […]
June 16 2025
Inventor Assistance Program bears fruit
Kenya’s Inventor Assistance Program (IAP) is beginning to show results, with nineteen applications submitted since its launch in 2023. The program, initiated by the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI) in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), aims to connect inventors and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises with patent specialists who offer free support. […]
June 16 2025
Ant smugglers sentenced
In a case that presumably shocked myrmecologists and the hobby ant husbandry community, two Belgian nationals were sentenced to a fine of over seven thousand five hundred US dollar or a year in prison each, for the attempted smuggling of around five thousand ant queens from Nakuru, Kenya. The pair were charged in terms of […]
June 16 2025
Artists highlight compensation practices by Collective Management Organisations and digital platforms
In a statement representing Kenyan artists at the African Union (AU) headquarters in Addis Ababa, Kenyan musician and actress Nikita Kering called on the AU to address the issue of unfair pay from Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) and digital platforms, and to push for stronger AU support in protecting the artists’ intellectual property. The statement […]
June 16 2025
Industrial Property Office Bill to be introduced
The Ghanaian Parliament is readying itself to introduce a raft of new bills intended to strengthen Ghana’s financial sector, reform key aspects of the country’s legal and governance systems, and promote investment. Among these bills will be the Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill (“the Bill”), which has been gestating for some time and about which […]
June 16 2025
Ethiopia joins Paris Convention
We have previously written about Ethiopia’s accession to the Paris Convention. Now the next step, deposit by the government of Ethiopia of its instrument of accession to the Paris Convention, has been announced. Ethiopia will now formally become a member of the Paris Union on August 15, 2025. While we previously discussed the benefits to […]
June 16 2025
Geographical Indication leads to pepper festival
The Representative Group of the Protected Geographical Indication Penja Pepper has announced the first “Penja International Pepper Festival”, to run from 24 to 26 June in Penja, Cameroon. The event will have the theme “Let’s Discover the Authenticity of Penja Pepper” and is intended to highlight the Penja pepper, which is grown in the volcanic […]
June 16 2025
Counterfeit mobile phones destroyed
In May, Botswana’s Companies and Intellectual Property Authority (CIPA) destroyed a large quantity of counterfeit and pirated goods, including fake mobile telephones and earbuds. Most of these items were reportedly imported from China, and were valued at several million US dollars in total. Counterfeit products have long found a market across Africa, where high demand […]
June 16 2025
African Development Bank announces health infrastructure, pharmaceutical manufacturing plan
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has announced a six billion US dollar health infrastructure and pharmaceutical manufacturing development plan, with 3 billion dollars being allocated for each. The AfDB has previously had success in similar plans directed to agriculture, food security and energy, with large sums allocated to connect 300 million people in Africa to […]
June 16 2025
Defending Under a Reservation of Rights: Practical Insights for Insurers from the US
A recent decision from the Southern District of New York offers valuable perspective on the procedures and obligations that arise when an insurer defends a claim under a reservation of rights. Background The case involved a professional negligence action against an attorney, following an alleged failure to sue all responsible parties in a prior medical […]
June 12 2025
Public liability claims: A Cautionary Tale on Public Infrastructure and Personal Vigilance
Introduction The matter concerns a claim for damages arising from an incident in which the Plaintiff fell into an open manhole while walking along a pavement in Soweto. The Plaintiff, a resident of the area, was returning home from a shopping trip and chose to walk along Chris Hani Road to catch a taxi. While […]
June 12 2025
Brand New World: How Smart Companies Are Building Communities, Not Just Customers
While President Trump and Elon Musk were going at it like Ike and Tina, something far more interesting was happening in the background. The Trump administration’s GENIUS Act isn’t just another boring government bill – it’s basically America’s official “we’re going all-in on Web3” announcement. What Is Web3? Web3 represents the next evolution of the […]
June 12 2025
POPIA in Practice: What the Latest Developments Mean for South African Businesses
In the initial years following the commencement of the Protection of Personal Information Act No. 4 of 2013 (POPIA), the Information Regulator adopted a measured approach, focusing primarily on education, awareness, and cooperative engagement with responsible parties. This period was marked by a willingness to guide organisations toward compliance rather than penalise them for missteps. […]
June 11 2025
New South African Plant Breeders’ Rights law comes into effect
South Africa’s new Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 12 of 2018 (new Act) has, by proclamation in the Government Gazette of 6 June 2025, been deemed to have been in effect since 1 June 2025. Thus, the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act 15 of 1976 (old Act) is now repealed. The new Act essentially has the aim […]
June 09 2025
Modernising Uganda’s Intellectual Property Laws
The Ugandan Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2025 marks a significant step in modernising Uganda’s intellectual property laws to better protect creators and innovators. Introduced by the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon. Norbert Mao, the bill aims to strengthen copyright protections, particularly for musicians and artists, ensuring fair compensation for their work. […]
June 09 2025
POV: GOING GREEN? A TRADE MARK PERSPECTIVE
Terms like “green,” “sustainable,” and “eco-friendly” are powerful marketing tools that companies use to captivate environmentally conscious consumers. These trade marks can colloquially be referred to as “green” trade marks. While “green” trade marks offer exciting opportunities for savvy businesses, they also come with hidden risks. LAUDATORY TERMS Laudatory terms express praise. Phrases like “eco-friendly” […]
June 09 2025
London High Court Decision Highlights Broker Duties and the Reach of "Other Insurance" Clauses
A recent High Court judgement in London has sent a strong message to insurance brokers about the consequences of failing to provide comprehensive advice, while also offering new guidance on how overlapping insurance policies interact. The case, involving a leading insurance broker and a community housing trust (“the trust”), is likely to have a lasting […]
June 04 2025