Von Seidels Interviewed by China Intellectual Property News
China’s fast developing IP system and its consistent increase in quality and depth. In a recent interview by China Intellectual Property News, Bastiaan Koster, former President of the Bureau of Federation of International IP Attorneys (FICPI), shared his comments on … Continue reading
Trademark Update: Rwanda
Grace period for late renewal of trade marks filed in Rwanda before 14 December 2009 As previously reported (see news post here) The Rwanda Law 31/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property was enacted in 2009 and came into force on … Continue reading
Is ARIPO’s Harare Protocol Denying Peoples’ Right to Access Affordable Medicines?
The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) is an inter-governmental organization that facilitates cooperation among its 19 member states in intellectual property matters. Each year an ARIPO Administrative Council meeting is held where representatives of the national IP offices of … Continue reading
Trademark Update: ARIPO
Introduction of central opposition procedure for ARIPO marks. Every year the ARIPO Secretariat (ARIPO’s governing body) invites stakeholders to submit proposals for the improvement of the ARIPO Protocols, which are then considered at a Working Group session held at the … Continue reading
Patent Update: ARIPO
Amendments to ARIPO’s Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs. The ARIPO Secretariat in late November 2019 at ARIPO’s Administrative Council meeting held in Monrovia, Liberia made proposals to amend the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs and its … Continue reading
A Broader View of Patents: Considering Their Value in African Countries
Like all IP rights, patents are territorial and if you want to stop a competitor from practicing an invention in a particular country, you need to have a patent there. Given the global world we live in, successful inventions tend … Continue reading
Design Protection for Spare Parts in South Africa and the United States
In BMW v Grandmark International 2014 (1) SA 323 (SCA), the Supreme Court of Appeal found BMW’s registered designs for vehicle spare parts to be invalid. The designs in question were for a bonnet, a grille, a headlight assembly and … Continue reading
Doing Business in China Event
At the October 2019 Von Seidels Technology and Networking Event, we welcomed IP Manager from the University of Cape Town’s RC&I department, Philip Hoekstra as our guest speaker. Philip, who is conversant with the technology transfer considerations and opportunities within … Continue reading
67 Logos Designathon on Mandela Day
Von Seidels gives 67 South African start-ups a 67% discount on trademarks Von Seidels is happy to once again be a sponsor of this year’s 67 Logos Designathon hosted by CWDi for Mandela Day. “Taking place on Mandela Day, 18 July 2019, … Continue reading
Trademark Update: Rwanda
Renewal of trade marks soon due in Rwanda The Rwanda Law 31/2009 on the Protection of Intellectual Property was enacted in 2009 and came into force on 14 December 2009. This legislation has contributed to the consolidation and integration of … Continue reading
