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 […]

The Senate has adopted a draft law establishing the Congolese Industrial Property Office. With the establishment of the Industrial Property Office, the aim is to provide technical assistance to local economic operators, researchers and inventors preparing documents to obtain industrial property titles, assignments and licensing. It will also provide local services to national users; such […]

On 26 and 27 July, the second meeting of the ARIPO ad hoc sub-working group on geographical indications (GIs) took place in Harare, Zimbabwe. The meeting was attended (in person) by the representatives of the sub-working group from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia. Two consultants recruited by AfrIPI were also present.  One consultant […]

In order to curb misuse of pharmaceutical trade mark registrations, the Angolan trade marks office (IAPI) has issued notice 9/2022 which states that, going forward, all registration certificates for pharmaceutical trade marks in class 5 shall now contain the following disclaimer: “This title grants the right of ownership and exclusive use of the trademark throughout […]

The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies has announced that South Africa intends to launch Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute, in partnership with the University of Johannesburg (“UJ”) and Tshwane University of Technology (“TUT”). UJ and TUT are co-founders of the AI institute, together with Communications and Digital Technologies Department. The aim of the AI Institute […]

Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition has promulgated, in terms of Section 15A of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1941 as amended (“MMA”), the 2022 Rugby World Cup 7’s as a “protected event”. The event will be hosted in South Africa from 9 -11 September 2022. As a protected event, the use of the logos as […]

The Director-General of Nigeria Copyright Commission (“NCC “), announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Federal Airports Authority Of Nigeria (“FAAN”) which aims to curb the sale of goods which infringe copyright at the national airports in Nigeria. The Director General of the NCC, raised concerns that numerous books and DVDs […]

Patents & Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) issued a public notice of 23 August 2022, announcing that effective from 1 September 2022, the Zambian Registry will only issue electronic trade mark registration certificates.

In order to curb the rise of counterfeit goods offered for sale online in Kenya, the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority is proposing to partner with Kenya’s Digital Markets. A meeting was held between leading Kenyan Digital markets and the Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority. The plan is to have online platform owners evaluate their vendor base to ensure […]

Following, the adopting of ‘D’ version of the Copyright Amendment Bill on 8 June, as well as the  ‘D’ version of the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill, the National Assembly,  passed the bills on 31 August 2022. The bills have now been sent to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) for concurrence. In addition, parliamentary hearings, as well […]