South Africa: Copyright

Intellectual property is a key factor in what sets a business apart from its competitors. As such, the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights are essential to preserving the value of those assets.

African textiles like Ankara, Kente, and Shweshwe carry profound cultural meanings that extend far beyond aesthetic appeal, yet intellectual property law struggles to protect these traditional expressions when fashion brands...

A South African court has delivered a decisive ruling on the limits of post-employment competition, finding that two senior employees unlawfully used their former employer's proprietary software, client relationships, and confidential information to launch a competing business. The judgment reinforces that fiduciary duties can extend beyond employment termination and that building a business on a former employer's investment constitutes unlawful springboarding rather than legitimate entrepreneurship.

If activities such as inadvertent copyright infringement constitute "misappropriation" or "improper use" of "property," the exclusion would eliminate a substantial portion of the risks that the insured would expect to be covered.

A balanced framework – one that protects creators while ensuring access to knowledge – can contribute meaningfully to cultural diversity, innovation and long-term growth across the continent.

The banter between Alcaraz and Djokovic over Alcaraz's new serve motion at the Australian Open, which allegedly imitates Djokovic's serve, might be in a very sportsmanlike manner...

In the digital age, photographs are shared, reposted, and embedded across websites with ease. Yet behind every image lies a creator, a photographer who has invested time, skill, and resources to produce a work of art.

While we are no experts on animation or light sabres, this case is a blockbuster! Both for Intellectual Property law and the future of generative AI.

The rapid advancement of generative artificial intelligence ("AI") is transforming industries across the globe, and South Africa is no exception. From creative content generation to business process...