News & Insights
AI in Africa: Regulations are catching up and the courts are already there
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept in Africa. It is here, it is being used, and it is now reshaping regulatory agendas and courtroom practice across the continent. Over the last two years, we have seen a decisive shift in how African governments approach AI. What was once discussed in policy workshops and […]
April 08 2026
Amendment of pleadings and prescription: When changing your legal basis comes too late
Introduction A recent judgment of the Mahikeng High Court serves as a stark reminder that a change in the legal foundation of a claim — from contract to delict — is not merely a technical adjustment. It constitutes the introduction of a new cause of action and, consequently, a new debt for the purposes of […]
April 01 2026
Indigenous Biological Resources, cannabis and the conundrum of human introduction
Cannabis is once again in the news in South Africa, with the recent announcement by various government departments of a national cannabis master plan to establish a formal cannabis and hemp industry. At the same time, the government has a long-standing commitment to protecting its local biodiversity, which is embodied in the National Environmental Management: […]
April 01 2026
The Freak Accident Defence: How Foreseeability Can Defeat an Infrastructure Claim
Claims for damages arising from injuries on public infrastructure are a regular feature of South African litigation. What is frequently underestimated, however, is the demanding role that foreseeability plays in limiting such claims. A recent High Court judgement from the Western Cape Division, delivered on 10 March 2026 per Janisch AJ, provides a sobering illustration […]
March 23 2026
Protests Inside Shopping-Centres: Risks For Centre Management, Shoppers and Employees
Public protest is a protected constitutional right in South Africa. However, when protest action moves from traditional public spaces into privately owned commercial environments such as shopping-centres, a different set of legal and risk considerations arises. Recent incidents, both locally and internationally, have drawn attention to the legal responsibilities of shopping-centre management when protest activity […]
March 23 2026
Liberia launches National IP capacity building workshop to strengthen rights protection
Important Topics Liberia launches National IP capacity‑building workshop to strengthen rights protection Liberia’s Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) recently ran a three-day training programme in February to improve the country’s understanding and management of IP. The initiative brought together more than 150 individuals from the creative industries, business community and wider private sector for in-depth sessions […]
March 17 2026
The Gambia’s IP advocates push back against amendment undermining IP Office autonomy
Important Topics The Gambia’s IP advocates push back against amendment undermining IP Office autonomy The Association for the Promotion of Intellectual Property – The Gambia (IPPA) is urging lawmakers to undo a recent change to the country’s draft Intellectual Property (IP) Bill, warning that the amendment strips the proposed Gambia Intellectual Property Office (GIPO) of […]
March 17 2026
UIR ranked Africa’s leading university for patent filings
Important Topics UIR ranked Africa’s leading university for patent filings Morocco’s International University of Rabat (UIR) has officially become Africa’s number‑one university for patent filings, marking a milestone for the continent’s innovation and intellectual property (IP) landscape. During the institution’s 15th‑anniversary event in Salé, UIR President Noureddine Mouaddib announced that the university has filed nearly […]
March 17 2026
Nigeria advances IP translation through SPARK partnership
Important Topics Nigeria advances IP translation through SPARK partnership Nigeria is intensifying efforts to ensure that scientific discoveries do not remain confined to laboratories but instead evolve into products that can improve healthcare outcomes. Dr Obi Adigwe, Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), explained in a media interview that […]
March 17 2026
MCSN receives ₦1.2bn copyright levy to support Nigerian musicians
Important Topics MCSN receives ₦1.2bn copyright levy to support Nigerian musicians Nigeria’s music community marked a milestone as the Musical Copyright Society Nigeria Ltd/Gte (MCSN) confirmed the receipt of ₦1.2 billion from the country’s newly activated Copyright Levy. The payment (totalling ₦1,205,956,580.20) is the first operational use of the levy that has existed in law for […]
March 17 2026
Notification of Mozambique’s ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty
Important Topics Notification of Mozambique’s ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) announced that the Republic of Mozambique deposited its instrument of ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty on 27 January 2026. The Treaty, adopted in Marrakesh on 27 June 2013, is intended to expand access to published works for persons who […]
March 17 2026
Libya tightens trade mark procedures and imposes new agent standards
Important Topics Libya tightens trade mark procedures and imposes new agent standards Libya’s Trade Mark Office has introduced several procedural reforms that directly affect how brand protection is managed in the country. One of the key developments is the suspension of trade mark re‑filings. Rights holders may no longer submit a fresh application for the […]
March 17 2026
IP protection takes centre stage in Kenya-US trade talks
Important Topics IP protection takes centre stage in Kenya-US trade talks Kenya and the United States (US) have wrapped up an initial round of talks aimed at developing a new Reciprocal Trade Framework, with intellectual property (IP) protection featuring prominently on the agenda. The three-day meeting in Washington, DC, focused on how the two countries […]
March 17 2026
AU summit adopts eight Annexes to the AfCFTA IP Protocol
Important Topics AU summit adopts eight Annexes to the AfCFTA IP Protocol At the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Addis Ababa this past February, heads of state adopted eight key Annexes to the AfCFTA Protocol on Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), which was considered a transformative step towards a unified African […]
March 17 2026
A significant judgment on Claims-Made Professional Indemnity Policies and late notification
Facts The Plaintiffs operated restaurant businesses and appointed the Defendant, an insurance broker, to procure commercial insurance on their behalf. On 4 June 2019, the Defendant procured policies from Renasa Insurance Company Ltd, but these critically did not include an extended business interruption clause covering losses from infectious disease outbreaks. When COVID-19 struck, the Plaintiffs […]
March 13 2026
When Can an Estate Agent Be Held Liable for Latent Defects in Immovable Property?
Claims against estate agents for latent defects discovered after the purchase of immovable property are frequently pursued without a full appreciation of the legal requirements that must be satisfied for success. One requirement in particular is often overlooked: the estate agent’s duty of disclosure extends only to material facts within their personal knowledge, and there […]
March 12 2026
When Is Emotional Distress Sufficient to Ground a Claim for Damages?
Claims for damages arising from emotional shock are often pursued without a full appreciation of the legal requirements that must be satisfied for success. One requirement in particular is frequently overlooked: the plaintiff must prove, through expert psychiatric evidence, that they have suffered a detectable psychiatric injury as opposed to mere emotional distress. The recent […]
March 09 2026
Trade Marks for Side Hustles: When to Spend and When to Wait
Side hustles usually begin quietly. They are the kinds of small, informal businesses people build alongside their main job or studies, often beginning with a simple concept and a name you quickly settle on before setting up an Instagram account to share your first products with people who already know you. At that stage, spending […]
March 09 2026