South Africa: Trademark

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Intellectual property law and copyright law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as licensing and syndication, patent law, trade secrets and trademark law.

Your Name, Your Trade Mark

It is only natural and prudent to want to protect a personal brand by acquiring a trade mark, but there is a common misconception that using or registering a personal name or full names as a trade mark is an absolute right.

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

A Salty Lesson: Afrormosia Commodities Vs. Sun Salt Services

Sun Salt owns the registered trade mark SUN for salt (registration no. 1992/01261). It has provided salt and related products for industrial, agricultural and household purposes...

South Africa IP

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ENS

How BMW (Quietly) Won "Rolls Royce" From Volkswagen And Why It Still Matters

In the late 1990s a tussle over Rolls‑Royce played out between Volkswagen ("VW") and BMW. While Volkswagen paid more for the carmaker, it was BMW who ended up with the brand.

South Africa IP

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ENS

The Kiddos vs. Chickees Packaging Battle

An interesting matter dealing with children's food packaging was reported recently, where the underlying dispute overlaps beautifully with the world of Intellectual Property - in particular...

South Africa Media & IT

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ENS

South Africa Implements The 13th Edition Of The Nice Classification

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Tammy Taylor vs The Viljoens - Trade Marks Take Centre Stage...again

South Africa IP

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ENS

Fire In The Hole – When Names Spark A Passing-off Battle

South Africa IP

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ENS

Position Trade Marks: Adidas And Thom Browne

South Africa IP

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ENS

The Trade Marks Choo And Chhu - Here's Something To Chew On!

South Africa IP

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ENS

Why Should I Register A Trade Mark?

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Big Cats And Trade Marks

South Africa IP

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ENS

The Business Of Ideas: Why Commercial Intellectual Property (IP) Really Matters

South Africa IP

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ENS

When AI Meets IP: A Lawsuit Waiting To Happen?

South Africa IP

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ENS

Domain Name Objections – A Necessary Tool In Any Enforcement Strategy

South Africa IP

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ENS

Investment Intentions In Sustainable Initiatives (Video)

South Africa Commercial

SG

SNG Grant Thornton

Africa Tax In Brief

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ENS

Accelerating The AfCFTA: Why M&A Is Key To Intra-Africa Trade

South Africa Commercial

Ai

Andersen in South Africa

Disney vs. OpenAI - When IP Meets Generative AI

South Africa Technology

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ENS

SARB's Amended Authorisation Framework: Closing The Loop On Closed Loop And TPPPs

South Africa Finance

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ENS

Social Influencers, Copyright And Photographs

A recent South African copyright judgment introduces us to the weird and wonderful world of social influencers, in this case the influencer Ntando Duma Mthombeni...

South Africa IP

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ENS

Holding vs Subsidiary: International Trade Mark Registration Strategies In South Africa

In a commercial environment, many multinational corporations centralise the ownership of intellectual property, including trademarks, within a holding company, while operational use of the brands is undertaken by subsidiaries across different markets.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

IP Vulnerabilities In African Fashion Supply Chains

Africa's fashion industry is booming, creating more job opportunities across the continent. Driven by youth, culture, and growing global interest, the sector is gaining international recognition through designers, brands, and events.

South Africa IP

I

Inventa

The Difference Between An Ordinary Trade Mark And A Collective Trade Mark

Choosing between an ordinary trade mark and a collective trade mark comes down to how your brand will be used in the real world.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Lesotho Deepens IP Reforms With ARIPO, Targets Key Protocol Ratifications

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Intellectual Property Developments In Africa: DJs, Trade Mark Deadlock, And Trade Mark Recordation

South Africa IP

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ENS

When Luxury Meets Legacy: The Prada-Kolhapuri Dispute And The Limits Of GIs, Trade Marks And Cultural IP

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Sound Marks – Best Not To Make Them Too Short

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Re-instatement Of Companies And Close Corporations Process Digitised By CIPC

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Operations Suspended At The Trade Marks Office

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Increased Official Fees For IP Services In Zanzibar

South Africa IP

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Inventa

The Travelwings Case, Confusing Similarity

South Africa IP

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ENS

Clawed Back: What The Sundowns vs Mosimane Case Means For IP Contracts

South Africa IP

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ENS

Labubu vs. Counterfeiters: When Collectibles Meet IP Law

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ENS

Increased Official Fees For IP Services In Zanzibar

The Zanzibar Industrial Property Office (ZIPO) has implemented a significant increase in official fees for intellectual property services...

South Africa IP

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Inventa

The Travelwings Case, Confusing Similarity

In this article, we discuss a recent South African High Court judgment in the case of Wings Travel Management (Pty) Ltd v Satguru Travels (Pty) Ltd t/a Travelwings.

South Africa IP

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ENS

Clawed Back: What The Sundowns vs Mosimane Case Means For IP Contracts

In May 2020, Football Club Mamelodi Sundowns and coach Pitso Mosimane inked a fresh four-year deal negotiated through Mosimane's agency, Moira Tlhagale Sports Marketing ("TSM").

South Africa IP

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ENS

Labubu vs. Counterfeiters: When Collectibles Meet IP Law

Whether you are a serious collector or just charmed by the "ugly-cute" craze, the world of Labubu toys has exploded into a global market phenomenon.

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ENS

Position Trade Marks: The Airwair Case

South Africa IP

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ENS

Understanding Trade Mark Disclaimers: A Guide For Start-Ups

As a start-up owner, protecting your brand through trade marks is crucial. However, it's important to understand the role of disclaimers in trade mark applications.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

The Role Of Disclaimers In Trade Mark Applications In South Africa

In South Africa, the Trade Marks Act 194 of 1993 provides the legal framework for the registration and protection of trade marks.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Travelwings Trade Mark Case Clarifies Limits Of WINGS Trade Mark Exclusivity

On 4 August 2025, the Johannesburg High Court handed down a comprehensive judgment in Wings Travel Management (Pty) Ltd v Satguru Travels (Pty) Ltd t/a Travelwings...

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Assignment Of Trade Marks – Transferring Ownership For Strategic Impact

Section 40 of the Trade Marks Act 1993 in South Africa governs the registration of assignments and transmissions of trade marks.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Hypothecation vs Licensing vs Assignment – Unlocking Trade Mark Value

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Hypothecation Of Trade Marks – Using IP As Collateral For Finance

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Trade Mark Licensing – Permitted Use, Registered Users And Revenue Growth

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Workshop Held As A Step Towards Recognition Of Seychelles' Honey As A GI

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Implementation Of Online Trade Mark Filing System

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

ARIPO Ambassadors Engagement

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Introduction Of OAPI LEX – A Jurisprudence Database

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Protecting Confidential Business Information: Lessons From The Chicken Coup

South Africa IP

E

ENS

US Trade Marks – The Vetements Case

South Africa IP

E

ENS

From Template To Trade Mark: Is Your Logo Legally Yours?

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Gaga Over Labubu

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Laced-Up Logic: Supreme Court Ruling Draws A Clear Line Between Trade Mark Infringement And Counterfeiting

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Supreme Court Rules Authentic Designer Goods Can't Be Called Counterfeit: Will The Real Enrico Coveri Please Stand Up?

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Counterfeit Mobile Phones Destroyed

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Shop Manager Fined For Selling Fake Mobile Phones

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

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Latest Videos

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Investing In Africa | Intellectual Property (Video)

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ENS

How To Register Food Products In Ghana

uA

Firmus Advisory

A ‘Triple Distilled' Summary Of Recent Trade Mark SCA Cases (Video)

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Adams & Adams

GRM Search - Offshoring IP | 16 August 2017 (Video)

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KISCH IP

Protect Your Brand – Advice To Start-Ups (Video Content)

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TripleOKLaw

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