News & Insights
BOTSWANA: ONLINE FILING SYSTEM
The Companies and Intellectual Property Authority is in the process of launching an online filing system. All physical files are being digitised and it is hoped that the electronic system will go live by the end October 2023. The online platform will cater for the filing of national trade marks, international registrations, ARIPO applications and […]
October 23 2023
AFRICAN TRADITIONAL MEDICINE DAY 2023
On 31 August, African Traditional Medicine Day, established by the World Health Organisation African region, honours the integral role of traditional medicine in the health and welfare of generations of people on the continent. The event serves as a platform for member states to discuss best practices, groundbreaking evidence, and innovative solutions that showcase the […]
October 23 2023
OAPI - INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: BUSINESS COMPETITIVENESS CHALLENGES
The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) celebrated the 24th African Technology and Intellectual Property Day on 13 September 2023, under the theme ‘Intellectual Property: Business Competitiveness Challenges’. Stakeholders, such as the member states, used the event as an opportunity to discuss and devise solutions to challenges that their economies are facing. Commemorating the day, Togo’s […]
October 23 2023
ARIPO - CELEBRATING AFRICA COPYRIGHT AND COLLECTIVE MANAGEMENT DAY
Africa Copyright and Collective Management Day is celebrated yearly on 14 September to raise awareness of Copyright and Collective Management Rights in Africa. The day was established by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Member States Collective Management Organizations, in collaboration with its partners, such as the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and […]
October 23 2023
WHY SHOULD YOU REPORT A POTENTIAL INSURANCE CLAIM AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE?
Insurance claims can be repudiated for many varying reasons – from the most obvious to the least expected reasons. One of the best ways of trying to avoid an insurance repudiation is to understand your contractual duties stemming from your policy. Although this does not guarantee a payout, it does, nonetheless, enhance one’s chances of […]
October 19 2023
Spinning Plates: Navigating new food label requirements in South Africa
Adams Adams Africa · Spinning Plates: Navigating new food label requirements in South Africa
October 18 2023
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT CHANGES THE DIVORCE ACT
On 10 October 2023 the Constitutional Court of South Africa confirmed the Pretoria High Court Order. It was declared that Section 7(3)(a) of the Divorce Act is inconsistent with the constitution and invalid to the extent that the provision limits the operation of Section 7(3) of the Divorce Act to marriages out of community of […]
October 10 2023
DON’T TRASH MY TRAILER!
The High Court of South Africa Kwa-Zulu Natal Local Division, Durban delivered a judgment in a passing off case between Fuel Trailers (Pty) Limited t/a Trailers & Tankers (“Trailers & Tankers”) and St Logistics (Pty) Limited t/a Jikelele Tankers & Trailers (“Jikelele”). The Court found that Jikelele’s use of the ORANGE TRAILER logo was already […]
September 29 2023
WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE NEW ROAD ACCIDENT FUND AMENDMENT BILL 2023
The Department of Transport published a draft Road Accident Fund Amendment Bill on 8 September 2023. The amendment bill aims to make a lot of changes to the way the RAF actually works, but one of the more contentious points is moving away from a compensation model to a “social benefits” model. Should the draft […]
September 27 2023
Common Sense Often Makes Good Law” [US Supreme Court Justice William Orville Douglas]: Mu Mecanicos Unidos S.A.S v The Registrar of Patents
The Court of the Commissioner of Patents recently handed down a decision which brings long awaited clarity and relief to the patent profession and applicants in South Africa. The issue before the court was whether an applicant for a patent may request an extension of time within which to publish acceptance of a complete specification […]
September 20 2023
SPRING TIDE/STORM SURGE IN THE COAST: LIKELY IMPACT ON INSURANCE POLICIES
The news that dominated the headlines this past weekend, 15 – 17 September 2023, was the storm surge incidents that swept across three coastal provinces – the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal. Mainstream media and social media alike were abuzz with the news. Since then, videos depicting the storm surges have been circulating across […]
September 20 2023
MIP podcast - The Trade Dress Code: Protection and Stopping Imitation
Adams Adams Africa · MIP podcast – The Trade Dress Code: Protection and Stopping Imitation
September 14 2023
Legalities Around Household Contents Insurance: Prevalent Problems & Possible Solutions
During the course of last year, 2022, there were various media reports that there has been a significant rise in home insurance claims. Complimenting these reports was the announcement by the Short-term Ombudsman’s Office that there had been a rise in disputes relating to home insurance claims. There were many reasons attributed to this rise, […]
September 14 2023
ZAMBIA - Appointment of Registrar CEO – Board of Patents and Companies Registration Agency
With effect of 1st August 2023, Mr. Benson Mpalo was appointed as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (“PACRA”) in Zambia. Mr. Mpalo joins PACRA as a legal practitioner and Advocate of the Superior Courts of Zambia with excess of fifteen (15) years of experience […]
September 14 2023
SÃO TOMÉ & PRINCIPE - Accession to the Geneva Act of Lisbon Agreements on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indicators
The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) recently confirmed the deposit by the Democratic Republic of São Tomé & Principe on 2nd August 2023 of the instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indicators. The instrument was accompanied by various declarations, including: […]
September 14 2023
KENYA - Rapper Bamboo awarded Sh4.5 Milliion (US$38500) in copyright dispute.
After nine (9) years, Simon Kimani, more commonly known by his fans as Bamboo, a popular rapper now turned preacher, has been awarded Sh 4 500 000 (approximately US$38500) for Copyright infringement by one of Kenya’s leading telecommunications companies. The infringement arose through the use of the telecommunications company of Bamboo’s songs, Mama Africa, Yes […]
September 14 2023
GHANA - Proposed Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill, 2023
New legislation has been proposed to establish a new Industrial Property Office in Ghana. The Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill, 2023 (“the Bill”) is currently pending before Parliament and has a way to go in the parliamentary process before the Bill can be assented to by the President. In essence, the Bill proposes to establish […]
September 14 2023
EGYPT - Establishment of the Egyptian Organisation for Intellectual Property Rights
Following the launch of Egypt’s National Intellectual Property strategy by Prime Minister Moustfa Madbouly in September 2022, Law No. 163 of 2023 was recently ratified by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi and officially published in the Official Gazette on 13th August 2023. Law No. 163 of 2023 provides for the establishment of the Egyptian Organisation […]
September 14 2023