This report by Von Seidels highlights the latest inventions in the tech field (including electronic, mobile, mechanical, software/IT) recently published in the South African Patent Journal

In the culmination of a widely followed case, on 1 October 2014 the Supreme Court of Appeal ordered the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) to repay Mark Shuttleworth over R250 million plus interest.

Further to our Ethiopia update in March this year (and notification in 2013) reporting that the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office ("EIPO") had issued new trademark Directives which came into effect on 24 December 2012, the EIPO has now published a further update.

The Reserve Bank’s Financial Surveillance Department has recently issued a circular amending the exchange control rules.

Internationally there is a potential legislative threat to trade mark law in the form of plain packaging legislation.

The central European Trade Marks office (‘OHIM’) have announced that as from 24 November 2014, trade mark applicants will be able to ‘fast-track’ European Community Trade Mark applications.

For some time there has been a raging debate between those who argue for and against lengthening the term of copyright. On the one side are creators and owners of original content who shudder at the thought of their copyrighted works falling into the public domain and becoming free for all to use. They argue that strong copyright laws encourage the creation of new works.

This report by Von Seidels highlights some of the latest inventions in the tech field recently published in the South African Patent Journal, including electronic, mobile, software and IT related patents.

People often ask how they can obtain copyright. The answer is simple – they need do nothing, it comes into existence by itself.

Pharmaceutical companies typically invest substantial amounts of money into research and development. Their research, however, is not only aimed at discovering new active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

The Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe will become the 19th member state of ARIPO on 19 August 2014.

This report by Von Seidels highlights some of the latest inventions in the tech field recently published in the South African Patent Journal, including electronic, mobile, software and IT related patents.

Recent and future developments in South Africa relating to promoting and labelling foodstuffs for infants.

The Incentive Theory is the most popular explanation for why the patent system is a good thing for society. According to the Incentive Theory, innovating is inherently risky and expensive and so we need to provide incentives to encourage innovation.

This report, by Von Seidels, highlights some of the latest inventions in the tech field (including electronic, mobile, mechanical, software/IT) recently published in the South African Patent Journal

The Draft Western Cape Liquor Amendment Bill was recently published for public comment.

After a four year battle with its competitor Nestle, the UK Appeals Court has refused the registration of Cadbury’s trade mark application for the specific colour purple that Cadbury has used for over 150 years in relation to its chocolate wrapping.

This report, by Von Seidels, highlights some of the latest inventions in the tech field (including electronic, mobile, mechanical, software/IT) recently published in the South African Patent Journal.

Counterfeit cigarettes, clothing and pharmaceuticals as well as pirated CD's and DVD's are among the leading illegal goods that are being smuggled across South African borders on a daily basis.

Stem cells are a class of biological cells that are characterised by their ability to replicate and develop into the various tissue types of the body.