Welcome to the Smit & Van Wyk blog, where you’ll find a wealth of expert insights and practical information on trademarks, patents, and copyright. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, inventor, or creative professional, our articles are here to help you navigate the world of intellectual property with clarity and confidence.
Patent Cooperation Treaty
Smit & Van Wyk is able to assist with Patent Cooperation Treaty patent...
Trademark Exclusions
Trademarks that may NOT be registered: Trademark exclusions in South Africa...
South Africa Trademark Requirements
Examples of Trademarks: Name,...
International Trademark Protection
Your mark should be registered in the countries in which you offer your...
Science Patents in South Africa
Research and Development Research and development in the life sciences can be...
Software Patents
Traditional protection of software / computer programs Historically, software...
Why You Should Do a Patent Search Before Applying
It is very important for applicants to do a patent search for similar...
South Africa Patent Requirements
Novelty Although novelty can never be determined conclusively, an indication...
South Africa Patent Exclusions
Inventions which cannot be Patented in South Africa Exclusions as inventions...
Patent Costs and Fees in South Africa
In South Africa, obtaining a patent involves a structured process with...
International Patents
It is important to note that patents are territorial rights – a patent granted...
South Africa Biotech Patents
Research and Development Research and development in the life sciences is...
Trademark Search
Search for possible similar Trademarks It is always advisable to do...
Copyright Infringement in South Africa
What constitutes copyright infringement? Copyright infringement happens when...
South Africa Franchising
Franchising means the licensing of a franchisor’s business model to a...
South Africa Plant Breeders’ Rights
Plant breeders have intellectual property rights for new plant varieties....
South Africa Copyright
Copyright does NOT have to be registered in South Africa. Copyright in South...
South Africa Designs
A South African registered design protects the appearance of an article,...
South Africa Patents
In simple terms, South African patents may be granted for inventions...
South Africa Trademarks
A trademark is a mark which distinguishes your goods or services from goods or...
Arbitration as a viable option to resolve IP disputes in South Africa
Intangible assets, such as intellectual property (IP) rights are only as...
OAPI
The OAPI (Organisation Africaine de la Propriété Intellectuelle)...
ARIPO
ARIPO (African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation) is an...
Intellectual Property in Africa: Opportunities for Licensing
With a rapidly growing and evolving market in Africa, foreign Intellectual...
The South African Patent Law favors foreign applicants
When considering filing a patent application in a foreign jurisdiction,...
Southern African Development Community
What is the Southern African Development Community (SADC)? The Southern...
Challenges for Asian Companies in African Markets
Entering the African markets can be intimidating for Asian companies, but with...
African Countries to Invest In
The African continent is a largely untapped market. With 54 countries and an...
Business Development in Africa
Despite the innovation and growth of business development in Africa, a gap...
The Belt and Road Initiative
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a significant infrastructure...
Intellectual Property protection in Africa
Why it is Important for Asian Companies to Protect Intellectual Property in...
Trademark Office in South Africa
The trademark office in South Africa is officially known as...
What is Cybersquatting?
Cybersquatting may sound like a strange eviction nightmare, but it is a...
Big Data and Data Protection in South Africa
In 1996, Bill Gates wrote an essay entitled “Content is King”, alluding to how...
Patentability of Cannabis Products in South Africa
We take a closer look at the patentability of cannabis products in South...
Foreign IP filings into Africa
According to estimates, Africa’s population will reach 2.4 billion by the year...
Gambia to join the Banjul Protocol
On 3 May 2021, Gambia deposited its instrument of accession to the Banjul...
Banjul Protocol Update 2020
On 15 May 2020, the Government of the Republic of Mozambique deposited its...
Uganda Trade Mark Regulations Amendments
“The Trademarks Act No.17, 2010 was recently amended by the Trademark...
Protecting Innovations, indirectly through AfCFTA
The African Continental Free Trade Area AfCFTA is a free trade area founded in...
Granting of a compulsory license for pharmaceuticals
In the event that an interested person discovers, through what ever means, a...
Legalisation of Private Use of Cannabis in South Africa
In September 2018, a landmark decision by the Constitutional Court in South...
Recent Increase in Trade Mark Filings in South Africa
According to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), South Africa...
2021 Client Choice Awards
Congratulations to Esmari Jonker on being named a 2021 Client Choice Award...
CIPC File Transfer Notice
Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) File Transfer Notice The...
Privacy rights in South Africa: Data And Cloud
Looking at privacy rights in South Africa with the arrival of the Fourth...
Patentability of Cannabis Varieties
Cannabis breeding involves the direct manipulation of cannabis species to...
Trademark Shapes
In order to trademark shapes your mark needs to consist of a three-dimensional...
Inventor Assistance Program
The recent COVID-19 pandemic did not only have socio-economic implications but...
Difference between a Domain Name and a Website
A domain name is essentially the address which directs users to a particular...