Latest News and Insights
November 29, 2023
Debunking the SANi Patent Myth - Clarifying the African IP Landscape
We have recently received an influx of enquiries from clients regarding the possibility of filing a so-called "SANi patent. While scratching our collective heads, we quickly realised that the so-called “SANi patent” is a title bestowed upon a non-existent ‘regional patent’ that supposedly grants ...
November 24, 2023
Spot the Difference: A Lens into Anti-Counterfeit Awareness
In a world where counterfeit goods are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the challenge of distinguishing between genuine and fake products is more daunting than ever. Our team at Spoor & Fisher has taken a significant step to address this challenge. Our
November 23, 2023
Battling the Onslaught of Counterfeit Goods into the Festive Season
Counterfeit goods are an ongoing and pervasive threat to our economy. As the festive season approaches, the sale of fake goods increases, casting a shadow over legitimate businesses, striving to survive in difficult market conditions. The illicit trade of knock offs, not only stifles the growth o...
November 8, 2023
Trademarks in Africa: bringing clarity to a complicated picture
Matthew Costard and Nola Pontes of Spoor & Fisher Jersey look at some of the issues that arise with trademark searching in countries that form the continent of Africa
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November 7, 2023
Navigating NFTs: Copyright and Trade Mark Insights from SA
The emergence of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in South Africa, like in other countries, presents distinctive challenges and opportunities in the way we perceive and manage IP rights, particularly with regard to trade marks and copyright.
This article explores how NFTs interact with trade marks a...
October 18, 2023
From Bits to Blocks - The Evolution of Blockchain to Combat Counterfeiting
Blockchain, the technology behind cryptocurrencies, is proving to be an important tool in combating counterfeiting. We at Spoor & Fisher discuss the power of this technology to revolutionise the authentication of genuine goods.
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October 16, 2023
It's a Barbie™ World: But You Have to Pay to Play
Barbara Millicent Roberts. Never heard of her? That’s because we all know her as Barbie, the 64-year-old doll who has once again captured the attention of young and old thanks to the Barbie movie that was recently released. In a world brimming with ground-breaking marketing strategies, the team b...
October 10, 2023
Out of the Boks Advertising? Eskort Springbox IP Law Reflections
Eskort’s recent advertising campaign for its “Springbox” has been talked about almost as much as the Springboks’ 7-1 split on the bench against the All Blacks. The tongue-in-cheek reference to the national rugby team has us at
September 27, 2023
Determining the Crax of the Matter: An Application of Section 10(17) in Opposition Proceedings
A recent Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment on the case of National Brands Limited v Cape Cookies CC & Another (Case nos: 309/2022 and 567/2022) [2023] ZASCA 93 (12 June 2023) has shed light on the application of Section 10(17) of the Trade Marks Act 194 of 199...
September 7, 2023
Is AI Sufficiently Contained by Intellectual Property Laws?
In an era of rapidly evolving (AI) and (ML) technologies autonomous design, music composition, art creation and predictive analytics, bear witness to the pervasive influence of AI and ML in virtually every facet of our daily lives. The seamless integration of (AI) ...
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