News & Insights
When Time Runs Out: A Court's Take on the Timely Assessment of Insurance Claims
Policyholders and insurers alike should take note of a judgement recently handed down in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Johannesburg. The case concerned a claim for specific performance in terms of a life insurance policy. The policyholder lodged a claim with his insurer through its authorised agent on or about 27 September […]
April 02 2024
The Legal Industry Review, South Africa Edition - Volume 5.
The Legal Industry Reviews South Africa Vol.5
March 22 2024
HOSTILE TAKEOVERS AND MERGER FILING REQUIREMENTS – THE END OF THE TARGET FIRM’S ABILITY TO EMPLOY DILATORY TACTICS?
On 5 January 2024, the Competition Commission (“the Commission”) published draft guidelines on the filing of merger notifications for hostile transactions (“the Draft Guidelines”). The Commission identified a need for a document setting out its approach in such transactions as hostile takeovers, by their very nature, are often adversarial and lack the normal cooperation between […]
March 12 2024
Two-day Training Workshop on Copyright Management Best Practices
The Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), convened a comprehensive two-day training seminar on ‘collective management operations and licensing practices’ on 8 and 9 February 2024. This hybrid event brought together a diverse array of participants including musicians, authors, publishers, producers, comedians, academia, and collective management organizations. […]
March 12 2024
Increase in publication fees
Following a stakeholder engagement meeting with the USRB and the Ugandan Government Printer (responsible for publishing trade mark applications under the new Trade Mark Regulations), the trade mark publication fees have been increased from USD80 to USD100 with immediate effect. This fee, however, may vary according to the length of the specification of goods/services. Typesetting […]
March 12 2024
Temporary Trade Marks Office Now Accepting New Applications
After almost a year of disruption due to civil unrest, the Sudan Trade marks Office resumed operations on 11 February 2024. The office has also temporarily relocated to the coastal town of Port Sudan (previously located in Khartoum). The Trade Marks Office has started receiving applications for trade mark registrations, renewals, and recordals. All procedures […]
March 12 2024
Enhancing Integration of Intellectual Property Rights and Broadening Pharmaceutical Research
On Friday, February 2, 2024, Mr. Denis BOHOUSSOU, Director General of OAPI, welcomed a delegation from the Heads of the “Health and Globalization, Standards, Policies, Market” Chair at the University of Yaoundé II. As part of OAPI’s initiatives to foster an IP-driven economy and focus on research, innovation, and development, collaboration between relevant institutions is […]
March 12 2024
Government Initiates Measures to Enhance Economy via Foreign Direct Investment
Ambassador Nura Abba Rimi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, has emphasized the government’s commitment to enhancing the Nigerian economy through the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’ This agenda aims to foster economic growth, attract foreign direct investment, and promote the production of goods and services for both local consumption and export. […]
March 12 2024
Booksellers, Printers and Publishers to Undergo Profiling by NCC
The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) has reaffirmed its commitment to combatting book piracy through proper record keeping and profiling of booksellers, printers, and publishers. Dr. John Asein, the Director-General of NCC, highlighted the fact that the new Copyright Act empowers the commission to attach the illegal proceeds of individuals involved in book piracy. He stressed […]
March 12 2024
Further updates to trade mark prosecution requirements
On 14 February 2024, the Libyan Office of the Ministry of Economy issued guidance number 694,3.2.5 updating the requirements relating to the filing of trade mark applications in this territory. This comes subsequent to the Ministry issuing Resolution No 26 of 2024 (Changes at the Libyan Trade Marks Office and the new Executive Regulations no. […]
March 12 2024
Introduction of the Ministry of Economy and Trade's Supervised Electronic Advertising System for Trade Marks
Thursday, 1 February 2024, saw the Ministry of Economy and Trade introducing its electronic advertising system for trade marks. Senior officials from the Ministry, the technical team overseeing the system’s implementation, and numerous owners of intellectual property companies attended the event. The event commenced with the advertisements of over 6,000 local and foreign trade mark […]
March 12 2024
Cancellation Of Trade Marks Which Have Not Been Renewed
In accordance with Article 11 of the Executive Regulations for Trademarks, the Libyan Trade Marks Office has released official decision No. (335) of 2024 regarding trade mark cancellations. In terms of this decision, any published trade mark application featured in the Official Gazette, which has not been renewed as prescribed by Article (1257) of Commercial […]
March 12 2024
Steps to Facilitate Smooth Trading within AfCFTA
Steps to accelerate and advance seamless trade among the economies within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) are poised to be implemented soon. These initiatives include the establishment of investment protocols to safeguard both foreign and domestic investors, protection of intellectual property rights, protocols promoting the involvement of women and youth in trade, as […]
March 12 2024
DISPUTE RESOLUTION MATTERS: A LAWYER ‘DODGES A BULLET’ AFTER HAVING RELIED ON NON-EXISTENT ChatGPT CASES IN COURT PAPERS!
In a judgment of 20 February 2024, by the Supreme Court of British Columbia, a lawyer who had relied on case law generated by ChatGPT dodged a figurative bullet when the court found that, given the circumstances of the case, she should not be slapped with a special cost order in her personal capacity. A […]
March 04 2024
President to Puff, Puff, Pass Cannabis Bill into Law
In September 2018, the Constitutional Court of South Africa unanimously ruled that the personal and private use of Cannabis, by adults, would be decriminalised. This meant that the ban on private possession and consumption as well as cultivation of Cannabis plants for personal use was unconstitutional and infringed on section 14 of the Constitution which […]
March 04 2024
THE TROUBLE WITH MICROBES, OR WHETHER A YEAST IS MORE LIKE A BEE OR A SALMON?
We’re fond of the “tool kit” approach to Intellectual Property. This is where we encourage our clients to view IP not through the lens of a set of rights to be obtained for their own sake, but instead as a series of legal tools which can be applied to a number of different situations and […]
March 04 2024
Adams & Adams strengthens patent team with new appointments.
Adams & Adams is very pleased to announce two new appointments to their patent team, which will further enhance the firm’s highly regarded patent, design and Plant Breeder’s Rights(PBR) legal services. Dr Joanne van Harmelen will take on the position as a new partner, bringing her expertise as patent attorney in life sciences, chemical inventions […]
March 01 2024
Are Midstream Reviews of Proceedings at an Investigative Stage Permissible? Insights from a Full Bench Appeal
An appeal serving before a full bench in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria has recently shed light on whether a midstream review of proceedings conducted at an investigative stage is permissible. The appeal stemmed from a ruling by a single judge in the same division that an investigation conducted at the […]
February 19 2024