Ministry Issues Decree On Renewal Fees And Requirements

Libya's Commercial Registry Authority has resumed electronic publication of trade marks after an extended suspension, marking a significant step toward modernising the country's intellectual property system. While the 2026 Electronic Trademark Gazette now allows for digital opposition submissions, uncertainty persists regarding the publication timeline for thousands of backlogged applications and future gazette releases.

The Libyan Trademark Office has announced the reinstatement of the requirement for local attestation of legalised documents by the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

By Ministerial Decree, and with effect from 2 September 2024, the Libyan Trade Marks Office is once against processing freshly filed trade mark applications.

Libya’s Trade Mark Office has introduced several procedural reforms that directly affect how brand protection is managed in the country.

The Libyan Trademark Office has just issued the first registration certificate in 30 years. This development comes as a result of the Ministerial Resolution No. 316 of May 2009 to modify the form of the trademark registration certificate.

We are pleased to report that the Office of the Intellectual Property Division of the National Bureau for Research and Development, located in the capital, Tripoli, was not damaged during the recent fighting to remove the Gaddafi regime.

The Director of the Libyan Trademarks Office has issued an official decision, marked as No. 335 of 2024, aimed at streamlining trademark regulations in the country.

Effective June 1, 2025 – Circular No. 2 of 2025 clarifies key rules on trademark expiry and re-registration timing.

Due to a backlog of trade mark applications at the Libyan Trade Mark Office, the Libyan Ministry of Economy has temporarily suspended the acceptance and processing...

A South African High Court has ruled on the lawfulness of account freezing by banks based on fraud suspicions and affirmed SARS's authority to issue third-party notices under section 179 of the Tax Administration Act. The case arose after a close corporation fraudulently claimed a VAT refund of R3.28 million, transferred R900,000 to an individual's account, prompting the bank to freeze the account and SARS to pursue recovery through a third-party notice.

The South African flag represents more than national identity—it's a protected symbol with strict legal requirements for commercial use. Businesses seeking to incorporate the flag into their branding or products must navigate complex regulations under the Heraldry Act and Merchandise Marks Act, requiring ministerial consent before use in trade marks, packaging, or advertising.

Angola's economy is overwhelmingly driven by its oil sector. Oil production and its supporting activities contribute to approximately 50% of the GDP.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals examined whether a directors' and officers' liability policy's contractual liability exclusion could bar coverage for an entire multi-count lawsuit, or whether each legally distinct cause of action—breach of contract, fraud, and quantum meruit—must be assessed separately against the exclusion's terms. The decision addresses the critical question of how insurers must apply policy exclusions when a single complaint pleads multiple claims arising from the same und

Claims against estate agents for latent defects discovered after the purchase of immovable property are frequently pursued without a full appreciation of the legal requirements that must be satisfied for success.

A Nigerian Federal High Court has ruled on a high-stakes copyright dispute over the globally acclaimed gospel song "Way Maker," examining whether a music producer's technical contributions to a recording constitute co-authorship. The judgment clarifies the critical distinction between creative authorship and production services in determining copyright ownership. This decision carries significant implications for how the music industry documents and allocates rights between artists and technical contributor

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.

In today's digital-first world, graphic design platforms like Canva and Adobe Express have become indispensable tools for entrepreneurs.

Private bodies - such as hospitals, medical practices, banks and everyday employers - regularly receive requests for access to information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act 2 of 2000 ("PAIA"). Many recipients assume they have no choice but to comply with every request placed before them

The Registrar General of Intellectual Property Administration in Sudan has reinstated strict enforcement of the six-month grace period for trademark renewals under Article 19(3) of the Trade Marks Act, 1969. This policy shift ends years of lenient administrative practices that previously allowed late renewals without penalties or even accepted renewals beyond the statutory grace period.