South Africa: Copyright

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.

At the Milan Fashion Week in June 2025, Prada presented a toe-braided sandal that closely resembled India's traditional Kolhapuri chappal, an artisanal leather sandal...

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...

Innovation often relies on collaborations between operational companies and outsourced development specialists.

This story is currently making headlines in South Africa, with well-known and beloved local brand, Poetry, embroiled in a growing controversy over alleged design imitation and intellectual property infringement...

Copyright judgments are rare in South Africa and findings of the Copyright Tribunal are even rarer.

From 11 November 2024 to 22 November 2024 the WIPO Diplomatic Conference took place in Riyadh, with the focus being the adoption of the Design Law Treaty (DLT).

On 21 November 2024, the High Court of Uganda delivered a key judgment addressing various issues in intellectual property law. The case involved a copyright dispute between Knight Frank Uganda Limited...

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