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April 15, 2025
From Ownership To Overreach: The Tribunal’s Check On Copyright Power
A copyright licence agreement is a prime example of two fundamental legal principles: (i) the exclusive rights afforded to a copyright owner - to reproduce, publish, adapt and perform other actions in relation to the copyright work; and (ii) sanctity of contract – the rule that agreements entered...
March 28, 2025
Rhode Blocked: A Pop-Up Pitfall at Mall of Africa
Hailey Bieber’s coveted beauty brand, RHODE, appeared to make a surprise pop-up at the Mall of Africa recently – but not in the way fans had hoped. What started as a beauty lover’s dream quickly turned into a makeup mishap when questions about the authenticity of the RHODE-branded products surfac...
March 27, 2025
Counterfeit Crackdown: Fake Pots Boiled Over in R1 Million Bust
In a major victory for brand protection and consumer safety, our anti-counterfeiting department played a central role in a recent bust that dismantled a counterfeit distribution network in Johannesburg. This successful raid, which resulted in the seizure of more than R1 million worth of Hart pot ...
March 17, 2025
Shake, Shake… Stop! The Battle Over Mageu’s Trade Dress
If you thought that mageu – a fermented, non-alcoholic, maize-based drink – was just a smooth and creamy refreshment, think again. A legal battle between RCL Foods and Berkley Foods, direct competitors in the mageu market, was anything but sweet, leaving a sour aftertaste instead.
March 6, 2025
Cracking the Code of Green Claims: Ensuring Truth and Transparency
Public concern over environmental issues has driven demand for products that minimise harm to, or positively affect, the environment. Consumers increasingly want to know the origins, composition, and environmental impact of their purchases. In response, the market has seen a surge in goods, servi...
February 17, 2025
IP & Iconic Landmarks: Who Owns the Skyline?
As first published on IPKat.
Italy recently celebrated the one-year mark until the start of the Winter 2026 Olympics in Cortina. As with any Olympics, IP (intellectual property) questions abound when...
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.
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