Signed, sealed… but agreement set aside by the SCA
03 Mar 2025
BY Wandile Ndabambi , Brian Motloung AND Thando Mjiyako
The SCA overturned a lower court's decision, ruling that an agreement combining an acknowledgment of debt and a power of attorney, used by Absa Bank, was invalid due to non-compliance with the National Credit Act.
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Understanding the URA’s notice on stamp duty: Does it affect contractual validity?
03 Mar 2025
BY Phillip Karugaba AND Esther Namugenyi Kalema
The Uganda Revenue Authority recently issued a notice urging the public to comply with the Stamp Duty Act by paying duty on agreements executed or received in Uganda.
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Trade mark similarity – Monsters and Rat Pacs
03 Mar 2025
BY Gaelyn Scott
In this article, we continue our love affair with virtual globe-trotting and discuss a case in Japan as well as one in the EU.
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Trade secrets - China and South Africa
03 Mar 2025
BY Rowan Forster
Trade secrets play an important, yet somewhat surprisingly low key, role in intellectual property (IP) law. In this article, we discuss a recent trade secrets case in China.
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Missed opportunity: The Birkenstock dilemma
03 Mar 2025
BY Dr. Bernard Dippenaar
A German court decided Birkenstock's popular sandals aren't "art" for copyright purposes. This ruling means the brand's unique design might not have the full legal protection they sought.
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Meta's AI training under fire: Copyright Infringement allegations
03 Mar 2025
BY Dr. Bernard Dippenaar
In an increasingly tech-driven world, one of the hottest topics right now is the growing debate over the ethical and legal use of copyrighted material in the training of AI models.
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The Patent Infringement showdown: Starlinger vs. Copycats
03 Mar 2025
BY Dr. Bernard Dippenaar
The machine manufacturing ongoing dispute involving Starlinger against Copycats in China has some interesting Intellectual Property lessons for all of us – especially when it comes to patent infringement.
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When global politics meet local trade marks
03 Mar 2025
BY Dr. Bernard Dippenaar
The global legal landscape can be a maze, especially when multinational companies are caught between competing jurisdictions. A recent court saga involving Google, Russian media firms, and South African trade marks highlights this tension perfectly.
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Thatchers vs Aldi: Trade mark infringement or healthy competition?
03 Mar 2025
BY Dr. Bernard Dippenaar
In the ongoing legal saga between Thatchers Cider and Aldi, the latest ruling by the High Court of London has put a spotlight on trade mark rights and the importance of protecting a brand’s reputation.
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Walt Disney’s biggest mistake: A lesson in controlling your IP
03 Mar 2025
BY Craig Shapiro
Walt Disney's journey to building one of the greatest businesses on the planet is a lesson in entrepreneurship. One moment stands out as a cautionary tale, the loss of his first animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
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Puck it: Fanatics wins copyright infringement lawsuit over hockey puck-shaped memorabilia
03 Mar 2025
BY Craig Shapiro
Fanatics, Inc., a global digital sports platform recently triumphed in a copyright infringement lawsuit brought by William Grondin, the creator of “Slice of the Ice”, a hockey memorabilia product.
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DeepSeek's trade mark in DeepTrouble in the U.S
03 Mar 2025
BY Craig Shapiro
Chinese AI company DeepSeek is facing yet another legal challenge, this time over a trade mark conflict in the U.S.
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Compulsory licences
03 Mar 2025
BY Craig Shapiro
When creating IP or commercialising it, it is important to obtain specialist legal advice. This is especially true if one is collaborating with third parties to co-create IP.
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Africa Tax in Brief
03 Mar 2025
BY Celia Becker
The latest tax news and developments across Africa
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Africa Business In Brief
issue 583 | 02 Mar 2025
issue 583
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