|
More than just a pretty face ... time for design protection
For centuries humankind has been obsessed with adornment, with many an ancient burial site having revealed articles of adornment, still breathtakingly beautiful, mysterious, alluring and strangely familiar. So what’s with this fascination for things beautiful? Countless hours, across many disciplines, have been, and continue to be, dedicated to our better understanding of this, one truth being that it is very likely that this fascination shall prevail for a long time to come. |
|
|
|
|
Adams & Adams partners with MPASA’s 42nd PICA Awards in awarding the Individual categories
Adams & Adams has been protecting the fruits of their clients’ creativity in the form of trade marks, copyright, designs, and patents for over 100 years. |
|
|
|
|
Brands, designs, copyright & patents – a bundle of rights
What is the difference between a brand and a patent and when can I rely on copyright? The public may not always be aware of their rights and when they can rely on them.
Let’s look at one of the iconic symbols of the 20th century, the original Coca - Cola Bottle. |
|
|
|
|
Debugging patent claims for software related inventions
Instead of explicitly stating what constitutes a patentable invention, the South African Patents Act (“the Act”) provides an exclusionary list stating what shall not be considered “an invention” for the purposes of the Act. |
|
|
|
|
Blasphemy or clever advertising?
AXE DEODORANT ADVERTISEMENT BANNED
The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered Unilever to withdraw an advertisement for AXE deodorant. The advertisement depicted sultry-looking angels falling from the sky, seemingly drawn irresistibly to a man who had used AXE deodorant. A voice over stated “New Axe deodorant. Even angels will fall”.
|
|
|
|
|
Success for Colgate-Palmolive Company in Uganda
Colgate-Palmolive Company has successfully obtained an interdict (injunction) against the importation and distribution of a lookalike toothpaste product by Kampala Stock Supermarkets Limited (Kampala) in Uganda. |
|
|
|
|
The world of numbers & rappers - Protect your rights
According to Lagrange's four-square theorem, seven is the lowest number that cannot be represented as the sum of the squares of three integers. |
|
|
|
|
Are Proposed Amendments to Section 11D Providing Clarity?
The current section 11D of the Income Tax Act No. 58 of 1962 (the Act) provides for research and development (R&D) incentives which include a 150% deduction of operating expenses and accelerated depreciation of any building or part thereof, machinery, plant, implements, utensil or article. |
|
|
|
|
Re-launch of .com.ru domains (Russia)
The Russian registry suspended registrations in the .com.ru domain extension for the past few years, but has now decided to accept new registration requests. There are no restrictions or requirements for the registration of a .com.ru domain name so this is an opportunity for companies who do business with Russia to register a domain name in that country. |
|
|
|
|
Comparing Apples with Pears – the SA pharmaceutical market is not the same as the US one!
A recent report by the American Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”, the equivalent to South Africa’s competition authorities) on the short- and long-term effects of authorised generics sparked an article in the Business Report on Friday, 14 October - “Delay in generics robbing SA’s sick”. |
|
|
|
|
New Bill for green fingers – draft Plant Breeders’ Rights Amendment Bill
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has, under Notice 688 of 2011 in the Government Gazette of 7 October 2011 invited interested parties to submit written comments on the draft Plant Breeders’ Rights Amendment Bill. If enacted, the Bill will replace the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act No. 15 of 1976, as amended. |
|
|
|
|
The lost Van Gogh in your attic: Trade Secrets & MGA Entertainment’s win against Mattel
ondered if that neglected painting next to the fossilised tin of Plascon Velvaglo in the corner of your attic is a lost Van Gogh, Picasso or De Goya? |
|
|
|
|
Where personality & patrimony converge
In the case of Julia Basetsana Kumalo v Cycle Lab (Pty) Limited [South Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, Case No. 31871/2008], the court explored the interesting dynamic that exists between the infringement of a personality right and a related claim for patrimonial loss. |
|
|
|
|
To patent or not to patent – ‘tis the question
Perfumes, cosmetics, hair care products, cold drinks, secret recipes for extra crispy chicken – they all pose a dilemma, namely whether to patent them and tell the whole world about them or whether to hang on to what they consist of - much like Sméagol from Lord of the Rings when he tried to hold on to “Precious”. |
|
|
|
|
It is time to pay for play
On 25 June 2002, the Copyright Amendment Act 9 of 2002 and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Act 8 of 2002 respectively amended the Copyright Act and the Performers’ Protection Act by introducing needle-time rights. |
|
|
|
|
The firm practises directly in several Southern African countries and through long-established associates in others.
