Officially formed in 1992, a key SADC policy is the promotion of sustainable and equitable economic growth, and socio-economic development.

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) releases annual statistics documenting applications filed in ARIPO member states. Applications

Whatever the nature of your business, whether it is a small or large entity, or if you are planning to begin something in your personal capacity,

The African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA is a free trade area founded in 2018, with trade commencing as of 1 January 2021. It was created among 54 of the 55 African Union nations.

In particular, Section 56 of the South African Patents Act is applicable when applying for such a licence, based on a so-called "abuse of rights".

The Registrar also has a discretion to refuse any patent wherein the use of the invention may be considered to be contrary to law.

Entering the African markets can be intimidating for Asian companies, but with the right strategic partners, entry can be simplified and successful.

"Cybersquatting" may sound like a strange eviction nightmare, but it is a commercial reality faced by entrepreneurs and corporations across the globe.

A domain name is essentially the address which directs users to a particular internet location.

In September 2018, a landmark decision by the Constitutional Court in South Africa legalised certain acts in relation to cannabis.

According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), South Africa is currently grouped under middle-income countries, amongst other African countries such as Egypt and Algeria.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a significant infrastructure project designed to expand China's economic involvement on an international scale.

Asian companies are shifting from manufacturing to high-tech research and product development. As a consequence, Asian companies are now important innovators who generate valuable IP which can be commercially exploited.

The African continent is a largely untapped market. With 54 countries and an estimated over 1.366 billion inhabitants (16.72% of the world population), Africa presents a valuable target for small businesses and large corporations alike.

It is also important to consider the prosecution process in the particular country, which can often result in a costly and time-consuming process.

First-to-use is generally superior to first-to-file.

According to estimates, Africa's population will reach 2.4 billion by the year 2050.

The Anti-Counterfeit (Recordation) Regulations and the Anti-Counterfeit (Amendment) Regulations, 2021...

South Africa has a non-examining patent system, which means that once the formal requirements are complied with, a South African patent application will generally be accepted within nine to twelve months from the filing date of the application.

A question that inevitably arises is whether unregistered trade marks are afforded protection in South Africa and if so, to what extent.