Patents
What is a Patent?
A patent is a way to protect a new invention which can be applied in business, trade or industry. It grants the patent holder (patentee) an exclusive right to the ownership of the invention. For an invention to be patentable it must meet three requirements:
-
It must be novel (new).
-
It must have an inventive step.
-
It must be capable of being used or applied in trade, industry, or agriculture.
Novel means that it must be confidential. In other words, it must not be public knowledge or knowledge already known in the industry in which it applies (or any other industry).
The patent will give you exclusive rights to the making, selling, offering for sale, or importing of the invention within the jurisdiction in which it is granted.
To find out more, see our helpful brochure below.
Should you require assistance with Patents, contact us here.
Adams & Adams Patent Services
The Adams & Adams patent attorneys are all qualified attorneys with engineering or science degrees. In addition, many of our professional assistants are fully qualified attorneys with technical degrees and are all in the process of qualifying as patent agents.
Our highly experienced team of experts and litigators is responsible for local and global patent and design filings, patent and design enforcement, and the commercialisation of patents.
We proudly render a full range of patent legal services in a wide variety of technical fields such as biotechnology, chemical engineering, chemistry and pharmaceuticals, electrical and electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, plastics and polymer technology, computer technology, and civil engineering.
Why should you get a Patent?
If your invention meets the above criteria, here is why you should apply for one. Intellectual Property, such as a patent, really is the cornerstone of innovation and progress. It ensures that your inventions are not used or stolen by others, thereby making sure you benefit from the challenging work that goes into inventing something new.
A patent can be a huge financial and technological asset to any business, from startups to multinational corporations. In many cases the value of a patent can exceed the actual marketable value of the fixed property of the business.
Areas Of Practice
A patent application can be filed in the name of an individual or a corporate entity. An application can be assigned to an assignee who is a person or a company who has obtained a written assignment of rights for the invention from the inventor. Additionally, there can be more than one applicant, called joint applicants. Find out more in the video below.
It is a common misconception that you can have a worldwide patent. In fact, you need to obtain protection in each country or region where you require it. Find out more in the video below.
Contact One of Our Patent Law Professionals
Newsflash: First-Ever SEP Judgment in Africa – Moroccan Court Interdicts Transsion Smartphone Sales
The Casablanca Trade Court on 6 July 2026 handed down what appears to be Africa’s first standard essential patent (SEP) ruling, interdicting two Transsion Holdings subsidiaries, Tecno Mobile Lim...
July 09 2026
Adams & Adams retains title of Africa Firm of the Year at the 2026 Managing IP Awards
2 May 2026 – Adams & Adams has been named Africa Firm of the Year for the second consecutive year at the 2026 Managing Intellectual Property (IP) Awards for Europe, the Middle East and Afric...
May 02 2026
Protecting Plant Varieties in South Africa
South Africa’s agricultural industry continues to thrive with commercial opportunity. Horticultural businesses and farmers regularly breed or import plant varieties to drive local enterprise. Gi...
April 14 2026
How can we help you?
We have offices in four major cities in South Africa: Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. Additionally, we have 23 associate offices in the rest of Africa, the firm serves as a gateway into Africa for IP clients. Please contact your nearest office for any legal enquiry or assistance.