Following the 6th annual Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, held in France in February 2011, it has become increasingly obvious that counterfeiting has become a worldwide pandemic.

South African companies with international operations face a unique challenge in the management and structuring of the ownership and use of intellectual property in their international operations.

From 13 May 2024, the Registrar General in Ghana will use and accept the terms from the harmonised database of goods and services (HDB) in TMclass.

Tattoos are no longer taboo. From the grunge metal singer in your local bar to the CEO of a fortune 500 company, tattoos are commonplace in modern society.

Lesotho's recent adoption of a National IP Policy (2025) and a Research and Innovation Policy (2021) reflects a broader strategy to build a knowledge-based economy and expand global trade, particularly in sectors like textiles, water, and agriculture. Between 2019 and 2023, Lesotho processed over 2,500 trademark applications and 1,300 patent and design filings through ARIPO, signalling growing international interest in its IP environment.

There appears to be a yawning gap between good governance and the role of intellectual property disclosure and value creation.

On 11 August 2025 the Companies and intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) announced that the application process for the re-instatement of companies and close corporations...

The Copyright Claims Board (CCB) in the United States has made its first final decision, awarding $1,000 in damages to a photographer for a copyright infringement case

KISCH IP, as a specialised Intellectual Property (IP) law firm in Africa, is in touch with any changes in Africa, including changes in how IP is being dealt with...

A popular South African musician, Daniel Baron, has accused the international dance music superstar David Guetta of plagiarising the melody from one of his singles.

It is clear from these examples that blockchain has the potential to greatly benefit the field of IP and business.

On 2 October 2024, amidst the Francophonie summit, the Alliance Francophone pour la Propriété Intellectuelle was launched in France, and attended by many institutions...

In terms of a Notice issued by Companies and Intellectual Property Commission ("CIPC"), the handover project of moving 7.2 million Companies, Close Corporation, Trade Marks, Design,...

On 13 December 2023, a pivotal stakeholder validation meeting at the Uganda Registration Services Bureau discussed the outcomes of consultations, principles, and the draft Bill...

A three-day workshop held in Douala, Cameroon, from 18-20 December 2023, facilitated by OAPI and the Intellectual Property Rights for Africa (AfrIPI) project...

OAPI, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Government of Cameroon, hosted the joint regional conference in Yaoundé on 28 and 29 July 2025.

The advent of the global COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for individuals and businesses alike. It has resulted in the need for many to work remotely through the use of technology.

The African Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) together with the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB)...

On 3 November 2020, the Deputy Director General at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mr Xavier Carim ("the DDG"), presented a briefing in parliament on the Intellectual Property...

The 63rd General Assembly of the Member States of WIPO took place at the WIPO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in July.