Design protection in South Africa is awarded based on the appearance of an...
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.
Who is the Inventor?
The term “inventor” is not explicitly defined in the South African Patents...
Publishing Agreements and Copyright Protection
As a writer, you will want to retain the benefits of owning the copyright to...
The Copyright process compared to other Intellectual Property
In general, any original work created by a qualified person is eligible for...
Patent Examination and Enforceable Rights in South Africa
South Africa is a non-examining country, which means that patent applications...
Trade Mark a Company Name in South Africa
Do not mistake the registration of a company with registering a trade mark. It...
Contract of Purchase and Sale
The most common contractual form in South African commercial transactions is...
The Legal Process for Domain Name Disputes
Domain name disputes occur when someone registers a domain name similar to...
Defending Your Trade Mark in South Africa
Protecting your brand is a crucial step for any business in South Africa. One...
Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Expressions in South Africa
Cricket South Africa recently announced a new apparel and merchandise...
Common Law Tort of Passing Off
A question that inevitably arises is whether unregistered trade marks are...
South Africa
The Smit & Van Wyk team of experienced intellectual...
South Africa Designs
South Africa registered designs are split into two sections. 1. Aesthetic...
South Africa Patents
South Africa patents have a duration of 20 years and annual renewal fees are...
South Africa Trademarks
South Africa trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are...
South Africa
Intellectual Property in South AfricaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Patent Acceptance in South Africa
South Africa has a non-examining patent system, which means that once the...
Copyright Infringement in South Africa
What constitutes copyright infringement? Copyright infringement happens when...
South Africa Designs
A South African registered design protects the appearance of an article,...
South Africa Trademarks
A trademark is a mark which distinguishes your goods or services from goods or...
How to Patent an Idea
Step-by-step guide on how to patent an idea. Qualified patent...
The Peppadew Success Story
The Peppadew story started when Johan Steenkamp first discovered the sweet red...
International Trade Mark Search
International Trade mark Search websites for Europe, U.S, Australia, ARIPO,...
Copyright Application and Registration in South Africa
In South Africa, any original work created by a qualified person is generally...
Patent Search
The rights of a patent may only be conferred on the inventor if the invention...
Copyright Photographs
Copyright does NOT need to be registered in South Africa. It is not possible...
How to Copyright Music in South Africa
Copyright protects original musical works, literary works, artistic works, and...
Trademark a Logo
A company logo / product logo / service logo which is used in trade to...
Trade Mark Registration Process
Understanding the trade mark registration process in South Africa helps...
Copyright in Architecture
Copyright in architecture is often misunderstood, even among professionals in...
South Africa Patent Laws
South Africa Patent Laws favour the usage of qualified Patent Attorneys even...
Does Copyright protect website content?
Copyright law protects website content even if the work is not formally...
Patent Law in South Africa
The Patent Law in South Africa requires that an invention meets three...
Complete Patent application in South Africa
Obtaining a patent in South Africa involves a two-step process, with the steps...
Patent Applications in South Africa
Registering a new invention is an important step in protecting your...
Patent Registration in South Africa
Patent registrations may be granted to any invention that is new in all...
Music Piracy
Music piracy is now more prevalent than ever and with the ease of downloading...