News & Insights
HOME & HOUSE CONTENTS INSURANCE CLAIMS AMID ENDLESS LOADSHEDDING
South Africa’s energy crisis seems to be getting worse by the day, and there is no end in sight. Eskom, the only public energy supplier who has in the past received massive financial injections from the government, seems to be helpless at this point. There are many reasons that have been advanced for this crisis […]
September 20 2022
DRAFT LAW TO ESTABLISH CONGOLESE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY OFFICE ADOPTED
The Senate has adopted a draft law establishing the Congolese Industrial Property Office. With the establishment of the Industrial Property Office, the aim is to provide technical assistance to local economic operators, researchers and inventors preparing documents to obtain industrial property titles, assignments and licensing. It will also provide local services to national users; such […]
September 14 2022
ARIPO AD HOC SUB-WORKING GROUP ON GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATIONS HOLDS SECOND MEETING
On 26 and 27 July, the second meeting of the ARIPO ad hoc sub-working group on geographical indications (GIs) took place in Harare, Zimbabwe. The meeting was attended (in person) by the representatives of the sub-working group from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Two consultants recruited by AfrIPI were also present. One consultant […]
September 14 2022
TM NOT EQUAL TO HEALTH AUTHORITY AUTHORISATION – DISCLAIMER AGAINST CLASS 5 PHARMACEUTICAL REGISTRATION TO THIS EFFECT NOW COMPULSORY
In order to curb misuse of pharmaceutical trade mark registrations, the Angolan trade marks office (IAPI) has issued notice 9/2022 which states that, going forward, all registration certificates for pharmaceutical trade marks in class 5 shall now contain the following disclaimer: “This title grants the right of ownership and exclusive use of the trademark throughout […]
September 14 2022
SOUTH AFRICA ESTABLISHING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INSTITUTE
The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has announced that South Africa intends to launch Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (“UJ”) and Tshwane University of Technology (“TUT”). UJ and TUT are co-founders of the AI institute, together with Communications and Digital Technologies Department. The aim of the AI Institute […]
September 14 2022
MMA PROHIBITS THE USE OF CERTAIN WORDS AND EMBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE 2022 RUGBY WORLD CUP 7’S
Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has promulgated, in terms of Section 15A of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1941 as amended (“MMA”), the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7’s as a “protected event”. The event will be hosted in South Africa from 9 -11 September 2022. As a protected event, the use of the logos as […]
September 14 2022
NIGERIA COPYRIGHT COMMISSION SIGNS MOU WITH FEDERAL AIRPORTS AUTHORITY OF NIGERIA TO COMBAT PIRACY AT NATIONAL AIRPORTS
The Director-General of Nigeria Copyright Commission (“NCC “), announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (“FAAN”) which aims to curb the sale of goods which infringe copyright at the national airports in Nigeria. The Director General of the NCC, raised concerns that numerous books and DVDs […]
September 14 2022
ZAMBIA LAUNCHES ELECTRONIC TRADE MARK REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES FROM 1 SEPTEMBER 2022
Patents & Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) issued a public notice of 23 August 2022, announcing that effective from 1 September 2022, the Zambian Registry will only issue electronic trade mark registration certificates.
September 14 2022
PLANS TO COLLABORATE WITH ECOMMERCE PLATFORMS TO FIGHT ONLINE COUNTERFEITING
In order to curb the rise of counterfeit goods offered for sale online in Kenya, the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority is proposing to partner with Kenya’s Digital Markets. A meeting was held between leading Kenyan Digital markets and the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority. The plan is to have online platform owners evaluate their vendor base to ensure […]
September 14 2022
UPDATE ON COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL & PERFORMERS' PROTECTION AMENDMENT BILL
Following, the adopting of ‘D’ version of the Copyright Amendment Bill on 8 June, as well as the ‘D’ version of the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill, the National Assembly, passed the bills on 31 August 2022. The bills have now been sent to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for concurrence. In addition, parliamentary hearings, as well […]
September 14 2022
NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER APPOINTED AT THE KENYAN ANTI-COUNTERFEIT AUTHORITY
The Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Authority has announced the appointment of Dr. Mbugua Njoroge as the new Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment took effect on 1 August 2022. Dr. Mbugua Njoroge succeeds Ms. Fridah Kaberia, who served as Executive Director. for two years in an Acting capacity. Dr. Njoroge previously served as the Chief Executive Officer at the […]
September 14 2022
THE SECOND COUNTRY IN AFRICA TO ‘ACCEPT’ CRYPTOCURRENCY?
The Ethiopian Central Bank issued a directive calling on all operators of cryptocurrency in the country, to register with the Network Security Administration (INSA). INSA is the national cybersecurity agency. This move by the Central Bank, has been viewed as an indication that the Ethiopian government is ready to partake and develop the cryptocurrency industry […]
September 14 2022
Ambush marketing and the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens
Ambush marketing and the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens With the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens being hosted at the Cape Town Stadium (purpose built for the 2010 FIFA World Cup), one cannot help but think back to the FIFA World Cup and the ambush marketing tactics on display before and during the tournament. While […]
September 09 2022
Claiming under a life Insurance policy where the deceased body is missing
Introduction: The major events of recent years, particularly in South Africa, including the 2021 July civil unrest and 2022 Durban floods, have brought forth an issue that is not often entertained due to the rarity of such events, and that is whether it is possible to claim under a life policy where the deceased’s body […]
September 08 2022
Parody in South Africa: addressing the Hippo in the room
A recent advertising parody has caused quite a stir at the watering hole, and left consumers questioning whether Hippo.co.za may have been out of line. The advert, which has already garnered over half a million views on YouTube alone, is a parody of OUTsurance’s “saver” advertisements that appears to spoof the original advertisements that featured […]
September 07 2022
Duties of a Conveyancer in South Africa
Signing an offer to purchase is the first step in buying or selling a property. However, for the sale to be completed, a conveyancing attorney is required to facilitate the registration of the transfer of the property from the current owner’s name into the name of the purchaser. In this article, we will look at […]
August 31 2022
I scream, You scream, we all scream for Iceland
What are the boundaries when it comes to registering the name of a place, country, city or town as a trade mark? This is the question that the Grand Board of Appeal of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is set to decide when it hears its first ever oral appeal in a matter […]
August 29 2022
Time for a competition Health Check
The recent raid by the Competition Commission on prominent players in the insurance industry serves as a wake-up call for companies to ensure that their affairs are in order. One way to do so is through a competition health check whereby an independent attorney conducts an assessment to establish whether your company’s policies and practices […]
August 29 2022