Attorneys

Patent Lawyers AFRICA

February 23, 2012
Attorneys, Intellectual Property Information, Intellectual Property News, Inventions, Patents, Trade Marks ™ ®

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. is an intellectual property law firm that specialize in obtaining and protecting your patent, trademark and design rights. Our focus is to provide legal services for intellectual property such as patents, trademarks and designs throughout Africa.

Our specialist patent and trademark lawyers serve international and local clients with patent filings and maintenance, and trademark registrations and renewals. We also provide legal advice on commercial rights attached to patents, trademarks and designs.

Our intellectual property services include:

PATENTS
Inventions : Biotechnology | Business Methods | Electrical | Electronic | Mechanical | Mining | Nanotechnology | Software
Patent applications, filings and registrations
Patent novelty search
Patent maintenance and renewals
Patent licensing

REGISTERED DESIGNS
Designs : Aesthetic | Functional | Industrial | Interaction | Patterns | Products
Design applications, filings and registrations
Design novelty search
Design maintenance and renewals
Design licensing

TRADEMARK
Marks : Combinations | Colors | Letters | Logos | Names | Numbers | Packaging | Shapes | Slogans
Trademark registrations
Trademark novelty search
Trademark maintenance and renewals
Trademark licensing

COPYRIGHT
Works : Books | Blogs | Broadcasts | Films | Novels | Photographs | Poems | Software Codes | Songs | Sounds
Copyright film registrations, U.S registrations
Copyright licensing

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. also created an additional  website with all the necessary information regarding intellectual property for all African countries. Here you can get information regarding the international treaties and member states, intellectual property offices, patent applications, design applications, trademark registrations, requirements and dates, as well as an in depth look at each country’s problems and infrastructure.

You can visit the international website here:

Patent Lawyers AFRICA

No Comments »

IP practice of Bowman Gilfillan merge with Adams & Adams

January 20, 2012
Attorneys, Clients, Intellectual Property News

Today Adams & Adams announced the merger with the Intellectual Property practice of Bowman Gilfillan as of 1 March 2012.

Bowman Gilfillan incorporated the firms Bowman Gilfillan Hayman Godfrey, Findlay & Tait and the well known specialist IP law form John & Kernick, which was established in the early 1900′s. John & Kernick merged with Bowman Gilfillan in the early 2000′s. At that stage John & Kernick was still predominantly known as a specialist IP law firm.

The merger with Bowman Gilfillan in the early 2000′s raised the question of synergy between specialist IP law practices on the one hand and general law practices and specialist corporate law firms on the other hand.

The merger of the IP law practice of Bowman Gilfillan with Adams & Adams seems to indicate that there is a niche market for specialist IP law practices.

Bowman Gilfillan, is primarily known as a leading corporate/commercial law firm which acquired the expertise to handle IP matters with the incorporation of John & Kernick.

The merger between Adams & Adams and the IP practice of Bowman Gilfillan emphasizes the fact that an IP law practice is a specialist field of practice that require specialist infrastructure and expertise to practice efficiently.

No Comments »

Angola Intellectual Property

December 6, 2011
Attorneys, Copyright ©, Inventions, Patents, Registered Designs, Trade Marks ™ ®

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. intellectual property services include applications, filings and dispute resolution for patents, designs, trademarks and copyright in all African countries, including Angola.

For more information about the Angola economy, climate, georgaphics, laws and major problems that might effect your patent, design, trademark or copyright.
Click here for more information about Angola

For more information about the Angola patent system, patent laws, international patent treaties and the patent filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Patents

For more information about the Angola design system, design laws, international design treaties and the design filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Registered Designs

For more information about the Angola trademark system, trademark laws, international trademark treaties and the trademark filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Trademarks

For more information about the Angola copyright system, copyright laws, international copyright treaties and the copyright filing requirements and procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Copyright

For more information about the Angola litigation system, litigation laws and the litigation procedures.
Click here for more information about Angola Litigation

No Comments »

Attorneys

September 8, 2011
Attorneys

Intellectual Property Attorneys

Attorneys specializing in areas of intellectual property rights can assist a company in several ways.

Intellectual properties have value and as such the registration thereof should be done with the assistance of attorneys well versed in the various intellectual property laws.

Trade Marks

One example is that of trademark registration. Although one can easily register a trademark without the assistance of corporate attorneys, the complexity of the application can lead to a trademark not fully protected, one that infringes on the rights of another and thus also infringement lawsuits.

Before the trademark is registered it is essential to conduct a thorough company name and trademark search with which the corporate attorney can assist.

The next step is to select the best possible categories in which to register such and to decide on the strength of the trademark. The intellectual property  attorneys can assist in all of the above instances.

License Agreements

Another example of how intellectual property attorneys can assist is in the setting up of license agreements with other parties. If the company creates software it is essential to have the terms and conditions of usage and thus user agreements in place.

With many types of software licenses available one must carefully consider the future usage of the software.

The attorney specializing in copyright can assist in drafting proper terms & conditions and license agreements.

Inventions & Patents

When it comes to patent rights and the registration thereof, one can file a provisional patent without the assistance of intellectual property attorneys, but must file the permanent patent application with the help of corporate patent attorneys.

In essence, almost every transaction and business correspondence is governed by some form of intellectual property law.

Get legal advice and assistance from experienced intellectual property attorneys.

Contact us for assistance today.

No Comments »

Intellectual Property Law Firm

September 7, 2011
Attorneys, Franchises, Intellectual Property Information

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. is an intellectual property law firm located in Pretoria that specialises in the following areas:

1. Registered Designs
2. Copyright
3. Franchising
4. Patents
5. Trade Marks

The team of lawyers at our law firm has many years of experience in the above areas and also assists foreign agents with the registration of patents, trademarks and registered designs.

Smit & Van Wyk, Inc. lawyers are qualified in scientific, technology, engineering and law.

This ensures that our law firm can help with the assessment of patents for patentability, novelty, and non-obviousness to a person skilled in the trade.

Services offered by Smit & Van Wyk:

1. Assistance in registration of trademarks as domain names.
2. Renewal of patents, trademarks and designs.
3. Restoration of trademarks, patents, and designs.
4. Assessment of intellectual property ownership.
5. Franchise Agreements
6. Legal advice and guidance.
7. Litigation assistance.
8. Dispute resolution.
9. Patent, trademark and design registrations.
10. Infringement prosecution.
11. License agreement setup for patents, trademarks, copyright and designs.
12. Assignment of intellectual property rights.
13. Trademark, patent and design searches.
14. Assisting foreign applicants in registering intellectual property in South Africa.
15. Setting up of publishing and related copyright documentation.

The Smit & Van Wyk law firm offers client’s expert legal advice and assistance in registering patents in the bioengineering, nano-technology, and biotechnology fields.

Whether you require help in determining the strength of your trademark, assistance against an objection to the registration of a patent, copyright infringement litigation assistance or general legal advice regarding intellectual property.

View our range of specialties and contact the team of lawyers at our intellectual property law firm to assist you today.

No Comments »