If you have an idea that you believe could revolutionize an industry or...
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.
South African Complete Patent
The second step is to file a complete patent application within 12 months of...
Provisional Patent Application
The first step is to file a South African provisional patent application for...
Central African Republic Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Cameroon Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Burkina Faso Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Benin Patents
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
South Sudan
There is currently no legislation in terms of Industrial Property in South...
Sudan
Smit & Van Wyk assists with the protection of Intellectual Property...
Patent and Design renewal deadlines in South Africa
Failure to have a thorough understanding of renewal fee deadlines can have...
Science Patents in South Africa
Research and Development Research and development in the life sciences can be...
Patent Search
It is very important for applicants to do a patent search for...
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
Novelty Search (R 5 000 – R 10 000) A novelty search is conducted prior...
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...
South Africa Patents
In simple terms, South African patents may be granted for inventions...
The South African Patent Law favors foreign applicants
When considering filing a patent application in a foreign jurisdiction,...
How to Patent an Idea
Step-by-step guide on how to patent an idea. Qualified patent...
How to Patent Mobile Apps
Traditional Protection of Mobile Apps The source code, on-screen layout and...
Beskerm jou Idees: Patent Registrasie
Beskerm jou idees en uitvindings deur middel van ‘n patent registrasie....
Registered Design vs Patent
A registered design protects the appearance of an article, unlike a patent...
Patent Litigation
When a patent is infringed, the patentee has various options to consider...
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property refers to all legislation concerning patents, designs,...
Patented
What is Patented? There are several categories of Intellectual Property in...
Register a Patent
To register a patent in South Africa is a two-step process, with the two...
Patent Exploitation
A patent grants exclusive rights to an inventor for a fixed period of time in...
Patent an Invention
How to Patent an Invention In order to patent an invention it has to...
Patent Duration
Patent duration in South Africa has a duration of 20 years from date of filing...
Filing a Patent
To file a patent for an invention in South AfricaRequirements for the...
What is a Patent?
So what is a Patent and why is it so important? A patent is the sole right...
Patent Search
The rights of a patent may only be conferred on the inventor if the invention...
Patent Attorneys Qualification
The Patent Attorneys qualification is a statutory qualification under control...
Recipe Patents in South Africa
Is it possible to Patent food recipes in South Africa? According to the...
Omskrywing van ‘n Patent
‘n Patent behels die toekenning van regte deur ‘n regering aan ‘n uitvinder of...
The way in which Patents are granted to change
The Department of Trade and Industry is to go ahead with a controversial...
Patent Trolls
What are Patent Trolls? Patent trolls are people or companies that own patents...
Patent Requirements in South Africa
Patent requirements in South Africa include novelty, inventive and useful....
PCT Patents South Africa
Smit & Van Wyk Intellectual Property law firm specialises in PCT patents...
Stem Cell Patents
Embryonic Stem Cell Patents:The ECJ (European Court of Justice) has announced...
How to File a Patent in South Africa
Step-by-step guide on how to file a Patent in South Africa. Always keep...
How to Apply for a Patent?
First and foremost, KEEP THE INVENTION SECRET and do not market, or sell it...
How to protect my Invention
How to protect my Invention? Remember to keep your invention a secret until...
Patent Rights Assignment & Licensing
Patent rights refer to the exclusive rights awarded to an inventor or...
The CAT-Scan Invention
A UK Patent No. 1283915 for "A Method of and Apparatus for Examination of a...
Patent Attorneys
The Smit & Van Wyk qualified and experienced patent attorneys deal...
Patents: Getting Started
1. Novelty Searches in view of obtaining patent protection for an invention If...
Patent Pitfalls to Avoid
New inventors often fail to register their patents successfully because they...
Why create a Patent Holding Company
The patent holding company is the firm that is specifically set-up to manage...
Patent License Issues
A patent license is normally granted by the patent owner to another party...
Patent Cooperation Treaty Applications
The Patent Cooperation Treaty is often referred to as the PCT. It is an...
Patent Flooding
Patent flooding can be used to gain several patents on minor variations of the...
Patent Misuse
Patent misuse is a term that specifies a specific action by the patent owner...
Patent Model Origin and Usage
When applying for patent rights one can, but doesn’t have to also include a...
Double Patenting Rejections
Double patenting refers to the act of one inventor filing for application...
Divisional Patent Application
A divisional patent application may occur when the patent application...
Patent Pool advantages & risks
A patent pool can be described as a grouping of two or more companies that...
Patent Portfolio management tips
The patent portfolio can be described as the group of patents owned by a...
Patent Troll companies
A patent troll is someone whether the inventor or a patent holding company...