Author Archives: Adams & Adams

In the recent case of Ekpenyong v The National Assembly & 2 Others, the Federal High Court of Nigeria declared the existence of the Administrative Proceedings Committee (APC) unconstitutional. The APC was established in 2020 as an administrative tribunal intended to resolve disputes arising from the operation of the Companies and Allied Matters Act or its […]

On 14 September 2023, Adams & Adams hosted the 10th annual Africa Network Meeting at its Pretoria offices. This was the first in-person event since the pandemic and saw the attendance of over 70 delegates representing over 20 African countries, including the meeting’s first delegate from Somalia. Other attendees included representatives from the African Regional […]

On 26 September 2023, South Africa’s upper House of Parliament, the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), adopted the highly controversial Copyright Amendment Bill, and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill.   The Bills were sent back to the National Assembly (NA) for concurrence on the relatively minor changes to the Bills that NCOP proposes.  It is anticipated […]

Piracy is, unfortunately, not limited to the high seas but has become a real threat in the digital world and causes staggering losses of billions in potential revenue.  These potential and real losses are also not limited to the digital world. Apart from the vital role of educating and creating an awareness of the value […]

The Companies and Intellectual Property Authority is in the process of launching an online filing system. All physical files are being digitised and it is hoped that the electronic system will go live by the end October 2023. The online platform will cater for the filing of national trade marks, international registrations, ARIPO applications and […]

On 31 August, African Traditional Medicine Day, established by the World Health Organisation African region, honours the integral role of traditional medicine in the health and welfare of generations of people on the continent. The event serves as a platform for member states to discuss best practices, groundbreaking evidence, and innovative solutions that showcase the […]

The African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI) celebrated the 24th African Technology and Intellectual Property Day on 13 September 2023, under the theme ‘Intellectual Property: Business Competitiveness Challenges’. Stakeholders, such as the member states, used the event as an opportunity to discuss and devise solutions to challenges that their economies are facing. Commemorating the day, Togo’s […]

Africa Copyright and Collective Management Day is celebrated yearly on 14 September to raise awareness of Copyright and Collective Management Rights in Africa. The day was established by the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO) Member States Collective Management Organizations, in collaboration with its partners, such as the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and […]

With effect of 1st August 2023, Mr. Benson Mpalo was appointed as the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (“PACRA”) in Zambia. Mr. Mpalo joins PACRA as a legal practitioner and Advocate of the Superior Courts of Zambia with excess of fifteen (15) years of experience […]

The Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) recently confirmed the deposit by the Democratic Republic of São Tomé & Principe on 2nd August 2023 of the instrument of accession to the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indicators. The instrument was accompanied by various declarations, including: […]