Library

It’s all in the label
It’s all in the label

Clients in the footwear, clothing and accessory industries, take particular note. The Merchandise Marks Act (MMA) has been amended and regulations created in terms of sections 10 and 11, will in future regulate the way in which products imported into South Africa,are to be labelled.

Trade mark dilution: you can’t laugh it off - September 2004
Trade mark dilution: you can’t laugh it off - September 2004

This Section is intended to protect proprietors of well-known trade marks against erosion and diminution of their rights through offending use by infringers but its full impact was not tested until 2003.

Internet domain name scam - September 2004
Internet domain name scam - September 2004

It has recently come to our attention that several of our large South African clients have been approached by European businesses regarding the registration of domain names.

Africa focus - June 2004
Africa focus - June 2004

In the past, developments in Intellectual Property legislation and practice in Africa have been hamstrung by a lack of government commitment. The need to comply with the TRIPS Agreement has brought about changes in several countries across the continent and in this bulletin, we focus briefly on these and other changes and provide an overview on membership of the Madrid Protocol on the continent.

Albex v. All Blax : the battle of the bleaches
Albex v. All Blax : the battle of the bleaches

Albez is a well known registered trade mark for household bleach in South Africa. 

How much taste can one publisher have?
How much taste can one publisher have?

When South African blue-chip retailer, Woolworths (Pty) Limited ("Woolworths"), announced in August 2003 the imminent September launch and publication of its magazine, Woolworths TASTE, it raised the hackles of the publishers of GOOD TASTE magazine

Focus on trade marks insert - June 2003
Focus on trade marks insert - June 2003

The specialised litigation unit in the General Law department of A&A dealing with personal injury claims has built up, over the past decade or more, an impressive record of successful claims against the Road Accident Fund.

Focus on trade marks - June 2003
Focus on trade marks - June 2003

Two recent legislative amendments introduced measures to prohibit ambush marketing in South Africa, ie. intentional conduct on the part of a person or company to obtain an unjustified promotional benefit from a sponsored event, such as sponsored sports or cultural events or other recreational activities.

South African Breweries International B.V. t/a SABMARK International v. Laugh It Off Promotions
South African Breweries International B.V. t/a SABMARK International v. Laugh It Off Promotions

The applicant is a company registered in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and trades in and controls the trade in a large range of products, largely alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The respondent is a close corporation and offers for sale T-shirts bearing marks which are similar to a number of well-known trade marks, including those of the applicant. It does so through advertising on the internet.

Grey goods: what are they and can they be imported legally? – August 2002
Grey goods: what are they and can they be imported legally? – August 2002

News items on legal topics in the areas of intellectual property and trade frequently refer to the importation of “grey goods”.