News & Insights
Nigerian national workshop on TRIPS
From 28 to 30 May 2024 a national workshop on the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS), organised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigeria was held at the Nigeria Export Promotion Council, in Abuja. Although Nigeria has been a signatory […]
June 18 2024
New Executive Director of the Copyright Society of Liberia
The Copyright Society of Liberia (COSOL), responsible for the protection and promotion of creative works, as well as, amongst other things, the collection and distribution of royalties for the use of creative works, has appointed a new Executive Director, Mr James Y. Draper. Mr. Draper is the former Executive Secretary of the Liberian National Commission […]
June 18 2024
Landmark visit by the DG of WIPO to OAPI office and conference
On 3 and 4 June 2024, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Mr Daren Tang, made a historic visit to the OAPI offices in Cameroon, for the‘WIPO Conference with the Heads of National Intellectual Property Structures of OAPI Member States’. On the first day of the conference there was a ministerial […]
June 18 2024
Ghana joins TMclass
From 13 May 2024, the Registrar General in Ghana will use and accept the terms from the harmonised database of goods and services (HDB) in TMclass. The incorporation of the Ghanian Registry in TMclass takes the total number of participating national and regional IP offices, which includes ARIPO, OAPI, WIPO and the EUIPO, to 93. […]
June 18 2024
Transition to E-filing – CIPA closure
In a public notice, the Companies and Intellectual Property Authority of Botswana (CIPA), announced that the online, e-Filing, system will launch in June 2024. In preparation for the launch, CIPA announced the closure of its offices from 3 June 2024 until 14 June 2024 and that it would not accept any paper documents or electronic […]
June 18 2024
Training on IPR Enforcement for ARIPO member states
From 28 to 30 May, a three-day training session on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcement for ARIPO member states was held in Nairobi, Kenya. The training, organised by ARIPO in collaboration with Intellectual Property in Africa #AfrIPI and the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), brought together IP professionals, government officials and law enforcement personnel to […]
June 18 2024
Banjul meeting: Director General meeting with the President of The Gambia
ARIPO Director General, Mr Bemanye Twebaze, and his delegation travelled to Banjul, The Gambia for a two-day high-level mission on 6 and 7 May 2024. The discussions were aimed at the advancement of The Gambia’s socio-economic agenda through the support of the ARIPO IP system. The mission included a diplomatic engagement with the President of […]
June 18 2024
2nd Edition of the African Publishers Conference
The 2nd edition of the African Publishers Conference, hosted by ARIPO and the Zimbabwean Book Publishers Association (ZBPA), was held at the ARIPO Office in Harare, Zimbabwe from 3 to 4 June 2024. The theme was “Enhancing the Capacity of African Publishing Industry for the Promotion of Literacy”. The conference was organised by the African […]
June 18 2024
Political party names & symbols – Is trade mark registration worth it?
In recent years, the South African courts have been called on to adjudicate much-publicised trade mark disputes involving the names and logos of prominent political parties. The dispute between the ruling party, the African National Congress, and the ‘new’ party on the block, uMkhonto Wesizwe, being the latest of such cases. While political parties are […]
June 13 2024
Debarments: A Symptom of Deeper Cultural Issues in the Financial Services Sector
Dishonest conduct by representatives of financial service providers (“FSPs”) continues to plague the sector. This is evident from an analysis of the most recent rulings of the Financial Services Tribunal, where a substantial proportion of the rulings pertain to reconsideration applications, challenging FSPs’ decisions to debar their former representatives. Are these simply the actions of […]
June 11 2024
Repealing Legal Barriers: A Triumph for Freedom of Expression in South Africa
The recent repeal of the crime of criminal defamation in South Africa marks a significant victory for press freedom, and the right to freedom of expression. This significant development, enacted through the Judicial Matters Amendment Act No. 15 of 2023, dismantled a considerable obstacle to the constitutional right to freedom of expression, which subjected journalists […]
June 05 2024
Leading law firm Adams & Adams rebrands
Blurb: Leading African law firm, Adams & Adams, is rebranding to modernise its image and reposition itself in the marketplace. Adams & Adams has announced the launch of its refreshed brand identity. Like any rebrand, this is both a costly and time-consuming exercise, and rightfully begs the twin questions of whether a rebrand is appropriate, […]
June 05 2024
When things don’t go according to plan: the building plan conundrum in the sale of property transactions
When dealing with the sale of property transactions, focus is often placed on the essential terms of the contract of sale i.e. the capacity of the parties, the property description, and the purchase price. There is however another crucial aspect which is often not addressed in the contract of sale and that is the production […]
June 05 2024
Navigating Merger Transactions in South Africa: A Strategic Approach to Public Interest
The South African economy has faced significant headwinds and continues to be constrained by sky-high interest and unemployment rates, power grid constraints and political uncertainty. Despite these and many other challenges, South African businesses find a way to remain competitive internationally, through innovative solutions and in many instances sheer grit and determination. Its ability to […]
June 04 2024
Using the law as a force for positive change
Intro: Adams & Adams is best known as an intellectual property law firm, has been involved in some ground-breaking cases that have had major impacts on SA. By Ciaran Ryan At 116 years of age, Adams & Adams has been part of SA’s developmental story. Best known as an intellectual property law firm, it’s roster […]
June 04 2024
In-Person Commissioning: An Outdated Inconvenience Awaiting Parliamentary Intervention
In today’s fast-paced digital world, legislation often struggles to keep up with the rapid advancements in technology. An example of such legislation is the Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act, 16 of 1963 (“the Act”). The Act requires that oaths be administered in the presence of a commissioner of oaths. Is this […]
June 04 2024
Legal Battle Over Towed Vehicle Ends in Favour of Insurer
A judgment from the High Court of South Africa, Eastern Cape Division, Mthatha, serves as a timely reminder that a lien (right of retention) can be defeated by providing adequate security for the debt alleged to be due. On 7 March 2023, the insured was involved in a collision on the road between Port St […]
June 03 2024
Disrupting the state of video game play
I have recently been exposed to the exploits of Mikey Turtle in Minecraft and Roblox minigames and experiences, but my exposure has been enough to lead me down the video game rabbit hole. Video game content plays a significant role in digital entertainment and is lauded, and sometimes criticised, for its social and economic impact. […]
May 31 2024