Latest News and Insights
November 29, 2024
Black Friday Deals, Dupes, and Deceptions
Black Friday and Cyber Monday are here and savvy shoppers and bargain hunters are gearing up for the year’s ultimate shopping adventure. But as wallets open and deals beckon, swindlers and scammers are ready to pounce on unsuspecting buyers. Whether browsing online or dashing through stores, cons...
November 21, 2024
Step-by-Step into the Sneaker Trap: Unknowingly Repping the Reps
Sneaker culture has grown exponentially since the day Michael Jordan’s shoes were banned from the NBA for being “too colourful”. Over the years, it has drawn in fans from hip-hop, sports, and celebrity culture. Today, sneaker culture is a global phenomenon, embraced by people from all walks of li...
October 30, 2024
Open Source and IP: Striking a Balance Between Sharing and Protecting
Open source software has transformed the way we develop and use technology, facilitating a collaborative approach that allows developers to access, modify, and distribute code, often without any obligation to pay licence fees to an upstream licensor. This collaborative spirit has fuelled innovati...
September 11, 2024
Fakes & Frauds: The Costly Impact of Counterfeit Goods
The counterfeit goods market thrives in the shadows, offering cheap imitations of popular brands to eager buyers. Fuelled by high demand and digital access, counterfeiting taints everything from luxury items to everyday products.
Rec...
September 2, 2024
Matthew Costard Appointed Managing Director of Spoor & Fisher Jersey
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Costard as the new Managing Director of Spoor & Fisher Jersey, succeeding Wayne Meiring, who has provided exceptional leaders...
August 28, 2024
MetaBirkins NFTs: The Bold Infringement on Hermès' Iconic Birkin Trade Mark
Birkin Background
In the first verdict of its kind, a New York federal jury on 8 February 2023 found that non-fungible token (NFT) artist Mason Rothschild’s MetaBirkins NFTs infringed the rights of Hèrmes International S.A. and Hermès of Paris, Inc. (collectively, “Hermès”) to its BIRKI...
August 15, 2024
Amazon Brand Registry: Why SA brand owners should enroll their brands
The recent arrival of Amazon in South Africa is a significant moment for local South African businesses and customers seeking to tap into the international e-commerce world, providing access to thousands of products not previously available to South Africans. As one of the world's largest online ...
August 6, 2024
It's a Tough Position: Understanding Position Trade Marks
Brand identity is everything, and the power to protect unique elements of a product through position trade marks is invaluable. This article delves into what position trade marks are, the legal framework surrounding them, notable case studies, and strategic advice for businesses looking to levera...
June 21, 2024
WIPO Member States Adopt Historic New Treaty
The global intellectual property landscape witnessed a notable milestone on Friday 24 May 2024, with the conclusion of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty on intellectual property, genetic resources and associated trad...
June 11, 2024
Nail Biting Disputes – Who Owns The TAMMY TAYLOR Trade Mark?
The acrylic claws are out again with the revival of the dispute between Tammy Taylor (the American founder of the nail brand Tammy Taylor Nails) and Melany and Peet Viljoen, about who actually owns the TAMMY TAYLOR trade mark in South Africa.
Background
Tammy Taylor, the CEO of the Ame...
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