KIPANGA™Trade Mark Watch
WHAT IS KIPANGA™?
We will provide our clients with customised early warnings against similar trade marks attempting to be registered in your field. These warnings are screened by attorneys who know your brand so that solutions and actions to protect your brand can be taken immediately. This will save you time, so that you don’t have to do in-house checks on competitors and are provided with updates which suit the needs of your business across the continent of Africa.
Early Warnings
In Africa, where many jurisdictions are first-to-file and brand filching is common, KIPANGA™ is a must-have tool in protecting your brands from third parties attempting to register similar marks in your space.
Time Saving
KIPANGA™ will reduce your inbox clutter, as well as in-house time spent screening and assessing potentially conflicting marks, while ensuring that your marks are properly protected in sometimes challenging jurisdictions.
Pan African
KIPANGA™ covers all states where journals are published and where Madrid Protocol applications designate African countries. Translations into English are provided on request at no extra charge.
Fully Customisable
Your KIPANGA™ report is tailored to your needs and can be sent weekly or fortnightly. Choose to be notified only of marks that are considered medium or high risk, or all marks uncovered by the watch. Customise by class as well.
Carefully Scrutinised
Watch notices are screened by an attorney who is familiar with your trade mark portfolio and who has specific experience in trade mark oppositions in Africa, so you only see marks of potential concern.
The Trade Mark That Refused to Die: Deadwood or Zombie?
The Case of Altron Ltd v Tracker (Pty) Ltd Pretoria High Court, 2026 A trade mark unused for almost ten years might ordinarily be destined for removal. Yet in Altron v Tracker, residual reputation hel...
August 27 2026
US Federal Court Orders Reformation of CGL Policy to Restore Exclusion Mistakenly Omitted on Renewal: Implications for the Rectification of Insurance Policies
In General Casualty Co. of Wisconsin v. Reed Hein & Associates, LLC, the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington held that a commercial general liability (“CGL”) po...
August 25 2026
More Than Code: Protecting Intellectual Property in Mobile Application Development
In today’s digital economy, mobile applications have become essential tools for businesses to deliver services, drive innovation and engage with customers. Whether developed for internal operati...
August 24 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.