ARIPO - The Banjul trade marks protocol - Harmonisation among member states
Mac Spence - 2011-10-10
Explaining the origin, functions and effects of ARIPO and the Banjul Protocol [Read More]

Madrid Trade marks in Africa and Surrounding Islands: Changing Perspectives
Mac Spence - 2011-10-03
The complexities involved in the Madrid trademarks system [Read More]

British Virgin Islands 2013 Validity of Service Mark Registrations Reaffirmed
Spoor & Fisher - 2011-06-29
British Virgin Islands %u2013 Validity of Service Mark Registrations Reaffirmed [Read More]

Supreme Court Says Trademark Remains even if used as Geographical Indicator
Megan Reimers - 2011-04-12
The Supreme Court of Appeal in South Africa has ruled that a trademark can still be a trademark even if it serves a dual purpose of also being a descriptive geographical indicator. [Read More]

Uganda now allows flexible specifications, convention priority claims and service marks
Spoor & Fisher - 2011-02-25
Since the recent implementation of new software, the Trade Marks Registry in Uganda has insisted that specifications of goods and services be worded exactly in accordance with the class headings as set out in the 9th edition of the International (Nice) Classification. As a result, acceptance notices have been issued requiring that specifications that deviate from the wording used in the Nice Classification, be changed to reflect the exact wording used in the international class headings - before the application can proceed to advertisement. [Read More]

Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles - Impact on Intellectual Property Rights
Dissolution of the Netherlands Antilles - Impact on Intellectual - 2011-01-12
The Netherlands Antilles, an autonomous Caribbean country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, was dissolved on 10 October 2010. [Read More]

ARIPO - The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization
Mac Spence - 2010-12-06
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) was established under the Lusaka Agreement of 1976 and was originally named the Industrial Property Organization for English-speaking Africa (ESARIPO). [Read More]

ETHIOPIA Trade Mark Law & Practice Developments
Mac Spence - 2010-11-29
The Ethiopian Trademark Registration and Protection Proclamation of 2006 (TRPP) was promulgated in that year to replace the existing, non-statutory trade mark system administered by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO). Once implemented, TRPP will bring Ethiopias trade mark law in line with other jurisdictions. [Read More]

Madrid Trade marks in Africa and Surrounding Islands
Mac Spence - 2010-11-16
The Madrid system, governed by the Madrid Agreement and Madrid Protocol is designed for trade mark owners to secure protection in several countries by a single registration in their national Trade marks Office [Read More]

Intellectual Property Law Developments in Zimbabwe
Mac Spence - 2010-11-08
The Intellectual Property Tribunal Act, 2001 (Chapter 26:08) and the Trade Marks Amendment Act, 2001 (%u201Cthe 2001 Act%u201D) were brought into operation by statutory instruments on 10 September 2010. This follows a period of nine years when that legislation remained on the back-burner. [Read More]

Trademarks in Uganda Service marks Now Registrable
Mac Spence - 2010-09-30
Service Marks Now Registrable [Read More]

Uganda the Trademarks Act 2010
Mac Spence - 2010-09-09
Uganda trademarks were last in the News on this site in June 2009. A letter by the Registrar General announcing introduction of the 9th edition, Nice Classification led to claims that service mark protection had become available in Uganda. [Read More]

Ambush Marketing and the FIFA 2010 World Cup
Dr Owen Dean - 2010-06-18
Ambush Marketing and the FIFA 2010 World Cup [Read More]

Exchange Control Ruling on Assignments of Trade Marks
- 2010-02-19
A South African High Court decision handed down on 17 February 2010 has ruled that a trade mark assignment entered into without prior exchange control approval from the South African Treasury does not constitute a contravention of South African Exchange Control Regulations. [Read More]

OAPI Acceding Countries Summary
Mac Spence - 2010-01-04
The tidy OAPI landscape contained islands of uncertainty, surrounding the accession of new member states. [Read More]

Ambush Marketing: A Practical Guide to Protecting the Brand of a Sporting Event
Phillip Johnson - 2009-12-04
Ambush marketing is a relatively new concept in the general field of IP law which has come to the fore in the past decade [Read More]

Intellectual Property and Registered Trade Marks - Springbok Emblem
O.H. Dean - 2008-10-13
The Government compelling SA Rugby to stop using the Springbok Emblem could cost the country plenty [Read More]

SCA unimpressed by lack of inventiveness
Hugh Moubray - 2008-04-10
SCA unimpressed by lack of inventiveness [Read More]

Use of a Registered Trade Mark, A Closer Look at the Repercussions
Linda Moeketsane - 0000-00-00
Everything in business is susceptible to change. Business strategies, company missions and visions may change. Trade marks and slogans also change. What are the repercussions for trade mark owners who do not change their trade marks completely, but merely change the font or delete matter from the trade mark? [Read More]


Website updated: 8 February 2012