Zimbabwe – ZIPO Making Headway Despite Operational Constraints
Although the Zimbabwe Intellectual Property Office (ZIPO) has welcomed the fact that its Industrial Property Automated System (IPAS) is up and running again, the Registry’s operations were severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Zimbabwe is one of the countries entering the third wave and is currently in lockdown. As such, ZIPO is operating with a very limited staff complement.
ZIPO has confirmed that filing receipts will be issued in order of the date of filing and that priority dates on timeously filed applications will be acknowledged. The Registry has also published and circulated its first Journal of 2021 on 6th July 2021. The newly assigned Registry official responsible for the Journal has further advised that they will aim to increase the number of applications published in the Journal and the frequency of the publication, in future.
Famous Faces, Hidden Risks: Using Celebrity Images on Merchandise in South Africa
A photograph of a famous athlete on a t-shirt. A tote bag featuring a well-known actor. A coffee mug bearing the likeness of a popular influencer. Celebrity-driven merchandise has become increasingly ...
October 21 2026
Mauritius: Harare Protocol enters into force
Mauritius deposited its instrument of Accession to the Harare Protocol on Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs (“the Protocol”) on 27 May 2025. It has now taken a significant step in str...
October 21 2026
Adams & Adams strengthens Africa-wide IP network as businesses face growing cross-border complexity
As businesses expand into Africa, managing intellectual property (IP) across different legal and regulatory systems is becoming increasingly complex. Adams & Adams says combining strong local expe...
October 21 2026