Latest News and Insights
January 9, 2026
South Africa adopts the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification
South Africa has adopted the 13th Edition (Version 2026) of the Nice Classification, effective from 1 January 2026. The new version applies to all trade mark applications filed from this date onwards, and applicants should carefully review the updated classifications when preparing international ...
January 5, 2026
Winning on and off the Field: Protecting the Rugby Supporters’ Jersey
The Springboks have done it again - successfully defending their Rugby Championship title against the All Blacks, the Wallabies and Los Pumas. The Springboks continue to make the nation proud, as seen in the growing sea of supporters’ jerseys worn by South Africans across the country.
There is...
December 9, 2025
How Free is Mickey Mouse? Disney Draws the Line on Mickey Jewellery
Mickey Mouse is making headlines, and this time, it’s not for his on-screen antics. Instead, the iconic mouse has stepped off the screen and into the courtroom. In July 2025, The Walt Disney Company (“Disney”) filed a lawsuit in a Los Angeles federal court against Red Earth Group t/a Satéur (“Sat...
November 26, 2025
Have Copycat Video Games Reached their Peak?
Video game copyright infringement is becoming increasingly complex as digital platforms make it easier than ever for copycat titles to appear overnight. The recent clash between indie hit PEAK and its near-identical Roblox counterpart, CLIFF, highlights both the evolving nature of piracy and the ...
November 14, 2025
How “Nero Champagne” went flat in Court
On 19 February 2019, Italian company Nero Lifestyle Srl (“Nero”) filed a trade mark application with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (“EUIPO”). The application sought protection for the word mark NERO CHAMPAGNE, to be registered across the EU, in respect of various goods and servi...
November 7, 2025
Satire or Standard: The 'Moron in a Hurry' Paradigm in Trade Mark Disputes
The use of hypothetical persons as a measure of standard in law dates all the way back to Roman law and the bonus pater familias or “good family father". The standard serves as a measure of whether a person has acted with the requisite care reasonably expected of someone in their role / ...
November 2, 2025
Tariffs Backfire: Fuelling the Fake Goods Trade
In recent years, the world has seen the global supply chain impacted by the implementation of tariffs by various countries. While the intention when imposing tariffs for imported goods may be to foster economic growth by protecting local industries, balancing trade deficits and defending against ...
October 22, 2025
The Name of a Showgirl: Taylor Kelce or Mr. Swift?
When Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their engagement, it didn’t just make headlines – it scored a pop-culture touchdown. A pop icon meets the NFL’s charismatic star player – a pairing that set the internet ablaze.
With two global superstars joining forces, the commercial possibilities...
October 14, 2025
Inventorship: Are you sure you invented that?
In most jurisdictions (including South Africa), the right to apply for a patent initially vests in the inventor(s). Incorrectly identifying the inventors can cast doubt on who legally owns the invention, and on who is entitled to apply for patent protection for that invention. There are common mi...
October 6, 2025
What Brand Owners should know about Trade Marking Taglines
For influencers and brand-owners alike, a few clever words can go a long way and even lead to serious earnings. Slogans, taglines, and catchphrases, once seen as corporate marketing fluff, have become valuable trade marks.
Nowadays, where attention is currency, owning a unique and impactful ph...
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