Stephen Hollis

Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta signed the 2021 Copyright Amendment Act into law[1]  on 4 April 2022. It introduces a new royalty sharing formula which entitles musicians and performing artists to receive a guaranteed 52% of revenues generated from the licensed use of music for ring-back tones used by telecommunications companies.[2] It will come as some […]

On 2 January 2022, Annexes III, IV and V of the revised Bangui Agreement entered into force, introducing significant changes to the trade mark registration process in OAPI, and changes affecting the registration of trade names, and industrial designs.  No changes have been promulgated in respect of patents under the revised Bangui Agreement yet, although […]

Why use of unlicensed online images may constitute copyright infringement. All original images and photographs attract

Hot on the heels of the Jerusalema Dance Challenge that took the world by storm last year, a new challenge is developing for some organizations that uploaded videos online showcasing their brands and workforces dancing to South African DJ Master KG’s global megahit, ‘Jerusalema’, without permission from the rights holders to do so. Recent media […]

Registry Visit In November 2019, Stephen Hollis (partner, Adams & Adams) and Menzi Maboyi (Africa Practice Manager) travelled to Monrovia to attend the ARIPO Admin Council Meeting. They also visited our Associate Office as well as the offices of the Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO). As LIPO was hosting the 43rd ARIPO Administrative Council Meeting […]

Registry Visit In November 2019, Adams & Adams partner, Stephen Hollis, and Africa Practice Manager, Menzi Maboyi,) travelled to Accra to visit our Associate Office, as well as the Ghana Registry. They met with the Assistant Registrar, Mr. Know Sessa Acquaye, to discuss Registry operations and outstanding matters. Mr. Acquaye provided an update on a […]

As first published in SAIIPL’s IP Briefs (Vol 2, Issue 7) August 2020. On the 22nd June, with the announcement of President Ramaphosa’s decision to refer the Copyright Amendment Bill (the “Bill”) and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill back to Parliament, a highly controversial legislative package that was railroaded through Parliament came to a screeching […]

The Supreme Court of Appeal recently delivered an interesting decision dealing with copyright infringement in cinematographic films. What makes the decision particularly noteworthy is the detail the court went into in analysing what constitutes a cinematographic film and determining the elements that make up a cinematographic film.

A popular South African musician, Daniel Baron, has accused the international dance music superstar David Guetta of plagiarising the melody from one of his singles. In September 2018, Guetta released Light Headed, featuring Australian singer Sia. Baron claims that the melody is nearly identical to his own 2016 hit single, Children of the Sun. Renowned […]

Are you starting, or have you already established a small or medium-sized business? There are many key considerations in relation to IP and governance when setting up a business.Adams & Adams is a proud supporter of initiatives such as the National Small Business Chamber (NSBC) and the Business Day TV SME Summit. If you’d like […]

HOW DAVID BOWIE CHANGED THE MUSIC BUSINESS | During his larger than life career in music that spanned more than four decades, he was dubbed Rock ‘n Roll’s greatest chameleon and also the Master of Reinvention.  He was inducted to the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 1996.  A true Renaissance Man, Bowie was […]