News & Insights
WIPO’s Director General visits Tunisia and pledges support of Tunisia’s new IP Strategy
WIPO Director General, Daren Tang, recently held an official visit to Tunisia. During his 3-day visit, he met with a number of key leaders and engaged in high-level discussions regarding the role of intellectual property in ensuring that Tunisia reaches its economic development goals. This visit demonstrates WIPO’s continued support for assisting African countries in […]
May 14 2025
Project 1%: WIPO Academy and WIPO Nigeria Office joint effort to bring IP education to Nigerian youth
The goal of “Project 1%” is to bring IP education to 1% of Nigeria’s youth and students. The WIPO Academy and WIPO Nigeria Office have been engaging with local educational institutions and stakeholders to provide IP education to over 2 million youth before 2030. Since its launch, over 1 000 participants have engaged in the […]
May 14 2025
Commercialisation of Intellectual Property in Kenya
On 15 April 2025, the Kenya National Innovation Agency (KeNIA) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) held a meeting to discuss IP protection, commercialisation strategies and innovation excellence. Separately, in a celebration to mark World IP Day 2025, held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, the commercialisation of IP was at the […]
May 14 2025
Malawi Parliament passes 2 key IP Bills
On 1 April 2025, the Malawi Parliament passed the following Bills: Bill No. 1 of 2025: Companies, Registrations, and Intellectual Properties Centre; and Bill No. 2 of 2025: Copyright (Amendment). The introduction of the above Bills reflects Malawi’s efforts to bring its IP legislation in line with international standards underpinned by the Malawi Intellectual Property […]
May 14 2025
Heritage Hub unveiled by Copyright Society of Malawi
The Copyright Society of Malawi (COSOMA), making use of the Copyright Fund, constructed a heritage hub in order to highlight and preserve cultural heritage and practices in Kwenje Village, Dowa, Malawi. The launch of the heritage hub has been well-received by local traditional leaders and will serve as a venue for various cultural events and […]
May 14 2025
Intellectual Property heralded as part of the national agenda in Liberia
Ahead of World Intellectual Property Day, the Liberian government hosted a National Intellectual Property Conference to reinforce its commitment to explore the role of intellectual property in achieving the country’s national development goals. Specifically, the office of the President expressed that the President wishes to host a National Intellectual Property Summit to engage in discussion […]
May 14 2025
Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) joins EUIPO’s digital database
In February 2024, the Togolese Institute for Intellectual Property and Technology (INPIT) launched a competition for a visual rebrand. The national competition was open to designers to submit a proposed new logo. The Ministry of Industry and Investment Promotion supported this competition in order to modernise INPIT’s image. On 30 April 2025, INPIT’s new logo […]
May 14 2025
Visual rebrand for the Togolese Institute for Intellectual Property and Technology
In February 2024, the Togolese Institute for Intellectual Property and Technology (INPIT) launched a competition for a visual rebrand. The national competition was open to designers to submit a proposed new logo. The Ministry of Industry and Investment Promotion supported this competition in order to modernise INPIT’s image. On 30 April 2025, INPIT’s new logo […]
May 14 2025
AfCFTA’s Committee on Intellectual Property Rights negotiations begin
The African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat convened in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, during 7 to 18 April 2025. The purpose of the 5th and 6th meetings of the Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) was to initiate negotiations on the draft Annexes relating to Intellectual Property Rights. The aim of the draft Annexes is to drive […]
May 14 2025
Malawian delegation visits ARIPO office
On 15 April 2025, a distinguished delegation of Malawian officials visited ARIPO’s office in Harare, Zimbabwe. This visit marked Malawi’s commitment towards advancing intellectual property rights protection in Malawi. The engagements largely surrounded the 2 bills passed by the Malawian parliament, which centres around a new IP office as a semi-autonomous government agency. The Director […]
May 14 2025
Directorate of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights established in Uganda
The celebration of World Intellectual Property Day in Uganda also marked the official establishment of the Directorate of Copyright and Neighbouring Rights, situated at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB). The theme of World Intellectual Property Day, 2025 was “IP and Music: Feel the Beat of IP”. This theme closely aligns with the goals of […]
May 14 2025
Summary of Aspen v Adcock [2025] 017055-25
The case of Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Group & Pharmacare Limited v Adcock Ingram Healthcare (Pty) Ltd & Adcock Ingram Intellectual (Pty) Ltd, was recently heard in the High Court and judgment was delivered on 12 May 2025. Both Aspen and Adcock are prominent pharmaceutical groups in South Africa, each with a holding company and subsidiaries […]
May 13 2025
Prescription and Constructive Knowledge: Key Principles from a Recent Supreme Court of Appeal Decision
Introduction A recent judgment from the Supreme Court of Appeal has provided important clarification on the application of prescription in the context of misappropriation of funds within a close corporation. The case revolved around whether a debt owed to a close corporation had prescribed, particularly in circumstances where one member was alleged to have misappropriated […]
May 06 2025
Africa's Hidden Treasures: The WIPO Treaty Revolution
The African continent boasts a wealth of biodiversity and is a treasure trove of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. These valuable assets have long been a source of innovation and inspiration, but their protection has presented challenges, especially in the realm of intellectual property. Enter the WIPO Treaty on Intellectual Property, Genetic Resources and Associated […]
May 06 2025
Preserving the Status Quo in Pension Fund Disputes: Insights from Cadac Pension Fund and Others v Nash and Others
Introduction The recent High Court judgement in Cadac Pension Fund and Others v Nash and Others (Gauteng Division, Johannesburg, 16 April 2025) offers important guidance on the role of interim interdicts in pension fund disputes — particularly where issues of curatorship, member entitlements, and alleged fund mismanagement are concerned. The case deals with a pension […]
May 02 2025
Internal Restructuring: Insights into the Competition Commission's Latest Guidelines
On 4 April 2025, the Competition Commission of South Africa (“the Commission”) published its final Guidelines on Internal Restructuring. These Guidelines clarify how the Commission will determine whether a transaction is an ‘internal restructuring’ transaction, and outline scenarios where such a restructuring could trigger merger notification and approval requirements prior to implementation of the transaction. […]
April 23 2025
RAF Litigation: The Prolonged Delay on General Damages – What’s Causing It, and How Do We Fix It?
Overview: The current assessment process for general damages in the Road Accident Fund (RAF) is facing significant challenges due to delayed and inconsistent claims assessments. These challenges have led to many cases being postponed indefinitely, often due to the RAF’s failure to participate in trial proceedings, delayed decisions on the seriousness of injuries, and the […]
April 17 2025
OAPI Participates in the Sixth Session of the Working Group on the Lisbon System
Strengthening the international legal framework for these safeguards was the main goal of the sixth session of the Working Group on the Legal Development of the Lisbon System, which was held at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland between 17 to 20 March 2025. The Lisbon System provides international protection for […]
April 16 2025