Latest News and Insights
Jun 5, 2023
Sudan: the Trade Mark Registry is currently closed
Please be aware that a military coup has recently taken place in Sudan. Civil unrest and demonstrations are taking place throughout the country, with communications including internet connections being disrupted.
The situation is ongoing with no indication of when normality will resume, and th...
Jun 5, 2023
Libya: Trade Mark Office resumes ‘normal’ operations
With effect from 1 November 2022, the Libyan Trademark Office limited the service that it offers to trade mark applications filed by Libyan nationals and companies - it is not entirely clear what the rationale for this step was, although it is our understanding that some internal changes were bei...
May 15, 2023
Zama Buthelezi: A Rising Star in IP Law and a Trailblazer for Women in the Field
A Remarkable Woman in the IP Industry
Zama Buthelezi is a partner at Spoor & Fisher, a South African law firm specialising in intellectual property (IP) law. With many years of experience in the field, Zama has established herself as a reputable legal exp...
May 5, 2023
Are You Ready for the Unified European Patent Court?
In Europe, the Unitary Patent and Unitary Patent Court (UPC) are set to come into force on 1 June 2023, bringing in automatic shared jurisdiction over European patents in many EU member states. Companies which have European patents which are currently in force need to prepare for the change, by r...
May 4, 2023
South Africa Falling Behind as EU Modernises Design Laws for Digital Era
The European Union (EU) is currently undertaking a review of its design laws, with the aim of making design law protection more relevant as the world transitions into a digital area. The proposed revision to the legislation introduces several key changes to expand ...
Apr 21, 2023
Closing the Gender Gap in the IP and STEM Professions
Gender equity in the workplace is as much of an issue in the intellectual property profession as in any other field, and while it is significant that women are assuming more prominent roles in intellectual property (IP), with increasing numbers of IP attorneys join...
Apr 18, 2023
The Registrar of Patents Takes Steps to Prevent Abuse of South Africa’s Patent System
The South African Patent Office issued Practice Note 21 of 2023 on 7 April 2023 setting out the requirements for expedited acceptance of patent applications. The Practice Note will go some way to curbing the abuse of the non-examination system by applicants who req...
Apr 14, 2023
Be Prepared to Enforce a Patent
Significant capital and effort are invested in creating an invention, applying for and obtaining a granted patent, and then ensuring that the granted patent is in a valid form that meets all the requirements for patentability. However, protecting an invention doesn...
Apr 3, 2023
The Uncertainty of IP Ownership in the ChatGPT Era
The issue of ownership of intellectual property created by artificial intelligence (AI) is provoking heated discussions as the new chatbot “ChatGPT” takes the world by storm. It has raised questions about copyright in the work generated, ownership of copyright and ...
Mar 23, 2023
Influencer Marketing – What You Need to Know About Trade Mark and Copyright Infringement
Influencers frequently advertise or post reviews on products/ brands on social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, providing advice and recommendations that many consumers will use in making purchasing decisions.
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