Maureen Kiugu (née Makoko)

On 27 March 2025, the High Court of Botswana (in Lobatse) presided over by Judge Busang, delivered a significant judgment in the matter between Specsavers (Pty) Ltd (hereafter Specsavers Botswana) and Strategic Ideal Holdings (Pty) Ltd, the licensee of Spec-Savers South Africa. Specsavers Botswana alleged that Strategic Ideal Holdings was passing off through the use of the trade […]

In the digital age, photographs are shared, reposted, and embedded across websites with ease. Yet behind every image lies a creator, a photographer who has invested time, skill, and resources to produce a work of art. When these photographs are used without permission, it constitutes copyright infringement under South African law, and the consequences can […]

On 4 August 2025, the Johannesburg High Court handed down a comprehensive judgment in Wings Travel Management (Pty) Ltd v Satguru Travels (Pty) Ltd t/a Travelwings, dismissing all claims by the applicant, Wings Travel Management (WTM), and providing important guidance on the limits of trade mark protection for common terms. WTM sought wide-ranging interdictory and […]

On the 26th of April 2023, the world celebrated World Intellectual Property Day. This annual observance is dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of intellectual property (IP) rights and their contribution to innovation and creativity. This year’s theme, Women And IP: Accelerating Innovation And Creativity, highlights the role of women in innovation and the […]

Sources:  Copyright Amendment Bill an issue for trade between SA and US (businesslive.co.za) Copyright Amendment Bill: US Trade Representative to review SA’s Preferential Trade status – Tech4Law The much-awaited analysis of the Copyright Amendment Bill and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill has been seemingly frozen since December 2020, and there has not yet been any […]

Iman Rappetti talks to Partner, Darren Olivier, and Associate, Maureen Makoko, about the upcoming Adams & Adams IP Evening Series, as well as the recent controversy over Basotho designs and well known fashion house Louis Vuitton as a case study. At a recent IP Evening Series event in Soweto, Darren explained that “fashion and crafts are a […]

A Trade secret is information that is useful in the industry and that is kept confidential. It is information that imparts value to its holder and one that provides a competitive edge over its competitors. Should information that constitutes as a trade secret be leaked, it could have a major negative effect on the business. […]