MIP Podcast – The Trade Dress Code: Protection And Stopping Imitation

In July 2023, three independent designers filed a lawsuit in California against Shein, the popular online fashion retailer. They allege that Shein sold exact copies of their work which infringes their copyright...

South Africa's Constitutional Court has delivered a landmark ruling on the Copyright Amendment Bill, upholding the controversial shift to 'fair use' while striking down broad educational exceptions for textbook copying. The judgment leaves critical questions unresolved about contract terms, ministerial powers, and the Bill's complete silence on generative AI—creating both constraints and opportunities as Parliament must now revisit legislation conceived over a decade ago.

The Gauteng High Court recently heard a case that’ll have serious implications for the vehicle and insurance industries.

An issue that comes up often in the life of an IP attorney is this: who owns the rights to materials created by an advertising or design agency for a client?

When can genuine, brand name goods still be labelled "counterfeit"? The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has just answered that question in Yossi Barel v Popular Trading CC (handed down 23 June 2025) – and its guidance will matter to every South African company that imports, distributes or enforces branded products...

Section 11D of the South African Income Tax Act (the "Act"), makes provision for a tax incentive scheme, commonly referred to as the Research and Development (R&D) tax incentive.

The 13th Edition of the Nice Classification is now in effect. Nice is the international classification system trade mark offices use (including CIPC) to decide which goods and services your trade mark protection actually...

A recent Zambian supreme court ruling could have a ripple effect in other African jurisdictions.

South Africa has a depository patent system, which means that patent applications made to the South African patent office are merely examined for compliance with the requisite formalities...

Many of our clients ask us whether they need permission to licence their intellectual property outside of South Africa.