News & Insights
Remote Working Challenges to Traditional Employment Contracts
Before the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition to remote working capabilities, an employment contract would often refer to an employee’s ‘place of work’. At such ‘place of work’, the employer and employee both had obligations to fulfil, which were regulated by legislation and practice reflected in the employment contract. However, the move to a more […]
November 23 2020
Top-notch talent in patent litigation
A patent provides the right to exclude others from making, using, exercising, disposing of (selling), offering to dispose of (offering for sale), or importing the patented invention for the term of the patent. When this right is infringed upon by others without permission, litigation may ensue. Patent litigation can be costly, complicated, and time-consuming to […]
November 22 2020
What Legal Effect Does Remote Working Have on Intellectual Property Rights in the Workplace?
In a recent Savile Row Workplace survey, in partnership with Adams & Adams, and published in October 2020, 88% of the respondents said they prefer to either work from home or a combination of both home and office. Despite this, 67% of those surveyed have not altered their work policies or agreements for remote working, […]
November 18 2020
Adams & Adams named South African IP Law Firm of the Year - Best Lawyers®
Best Lawyers®, a highly respected legal profession peer review publication recently announced their Best Lawyers® list for 2021 acknowledging outstanding global firms and lawyers. In the latest edition, Adams & Adams scooped the top spot for Law Firm of the Year, Intellectual Property Law in South Africa. In addition, 13 Adams & Adams Partners are […]
November 17 2020
Bringing Smart Solutions to the Protection of Biotechnology Inventions
Biotechnologists work tirelessly to improve our quality of life. Never has this been more evident than in the current global health crisis that we face. Their inventions address some of the world’s greatest challenges. Advancements in medicine, surgical procedures, food science, and agriculture, amongst many others, stem from innovations and technical achievements in this field […]
November 16 2020
Protecting Innovation in a Remote Working Environment
Almost overnight, most office-based workers had to adapt to remote working conditions when social distancing regulations were put in place in March this year to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This shift has presented challenges as well as pay-offs, and as restrictions have eased and a new hybrid model of working is looking […]
November 16 2020
Africa Update 2020 - Zimbabwe
Filing Trade Marks through ARIPO as an Alternative Zimbabwe acceded to the Banjul Protocol on Marks (ARIPO) in 1997. As Zimbabwe has domesticated the Banjul Protocol, an ARIPO registration designating Zimbabwe is afforded the same rights as a national application. National applications filed at the Zimbabwe Registry often experience delays of some four to eight […]
November 12 2020
Africa Update 2020 - Zambia
The enforceability of International Registrations in Zambia- Trade Marks Rights Not Getting ‘Beta’? In a recent decision of the Registrar of Trade Marks in Zambia in the matter of Sigma-Tau Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite (“the Opponent”) and Amina Limited (“the Applicant”), the Registrar held that international registrations (“IRs”) under the Madrid Protocol designating Zambia are valid […]
November 11 2020
Africa Update 2020 - Uganda
Registry Visit In December 2019, Adams & Adams Partner, Nishan Singh, attended a mediation hearing for a trade mark infringement matter filed at the Commercial Court in Kampala. He was accompanied by representatives from our associated firm. After the hearing, Singh visited the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), and met with the Manager of IP, […]
November 10 2020
Africa Update 2020 - Tunisa
Increase in official trade mark fees On 23 January 2020, the Tunisien Patent and Trademark Office (INNORPI) issued Decree no. 29/2020, in which it announced a 100% increase in official trade mark fees, effective as of 27 January 2020 KEY OPPORTUNITIES & CONCERNS Opportunities A resilient and resurgent economy based on established trade links The […]
November 09 2020
Our Virtual Selves: IP Implications of Virtual Reality
Virtual reality has been on the rise in the past years and is a growing and dynamic area of technological advancement and development. In 2020, through necessity, many of us have found ourselves conducting various aspects of our lives, everything from business meetings to birthday parties, through virtual platforms. In the mainstream, we have seen […]
November 08 2020
How to Copyright Your Work
As legally-binding protection over original works, copyright can be enforced by intellectual property (IP) attorneys, who can also assist those looking to become copyright owners. An IP attorney will be able to guide clients through application and action proceedings, as well as interdicts and royalty claims. Copyright Types The following ‘work’ can qualify for protection […]
November 07 2020
How to Register Designs in South Africa
South Africa abounds with talented people, and amongst these are designers. With our unique variety of cultures, South African designers are highly regarded both locally and internationally and many of them have exhibited and sold their products abroad. Design is a broad concept that may be applied in various ways. It can be applied to […]
November 04 2020
The Incessant Task of Managing Risks During the Pandemic
Earlier this year, we published an article discussing some of the key considerations for the construction industry during the global Covid-19 pandemic. We explored, among other things, how Covid-19 and associated lockdowns around the world have given rise to a tangled web of risks and challenges for employers, contractors and other stakeholders in the ultra-globalized […]
November 04 2020
Dog Bite Court Cases Gaining Momentum: General Legalities
Dogs, just like other domesticated animals, are an important part of most families – for affection, security, etc. As such, dogs play an important part in the family setting. However, in recent months many dog owners have become concerned by the growing number of cases relating to dog bites. When these cases succeed, owners are […]
November 01 2020
Africa Update 2020 - South Africa
Trade marks: Classification of goods and services Version 2020 of the 11th Edition of the NICE Classification of Goods and Services will apply to all trade mark specifications, effective 1 January 2020. Trade marks: Examination Version 3 of the Guidelines on the Examination of Trade Mark Applications came into effect as of 20 March 2019, […]
October 29 2020
Africa Update 2020 - Tanzania
Anti-counterfeiting training During October 2019, we travelled to Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania to conduct Brand Identification Training at the REACT workshop with the Fair Competition Commission (“FCC”) officials to assist them in combating the sale of counterfeit goods in Tanzania. The workshop was very well attended by the FCC, the Director General of the […]
October 28 2020
3D Printing: Friend or Foe of the Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Holder?
Covid-19 In the past couple of months, the global population has not only proverbially had their eyes glued on the Covid-19 pandemic, but also their bodies glued to their chairs, at home. In combating the virus, governments have put in place lockdown regulations which have kept the populace homebound. The lockdown regulations imposed by most […]
October 27 2020