Trade marks refer to a name, logo or slogan. A trade mark identifies the...
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.
Defending Your Trade Mark in South Africa
Protecting your brand is a crucial step for any business in South Africa. One...
Could Machine-Generated Works Require a New IP Category?
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has raised fundamental...
What Is a Trademark and Why It Matters
A trademark is a unique identifier that distinguishes the goods or services of...
Olympic Games Intellectual Property
The Olympic Games are a global celebration of athletic excellence and unity,...
Unlocking the Power of Trade Marks
In today's fiercely competitive business landscape, establishing a unique...
Central African Republic Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Cameroon Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Burkina Faso Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Benin Trade Marks
International and Regional Systems: Paris Convention PCT OAPI Member of OAPI,...
Algeria Designs
Types of Designs: Industrial Designs Filing Requirements: Simply signed Power...
Algeria Patents
Types of Patents: Patents of Invention Patents of Addition National Phase PCT...
Algeria Trade Marks
Types of Trade Marks: Collective marks Standard marks Filing Requirements:...
Common Law Tort of Passing Off
A question that inevitably arises is whether unregistered trade marks are...
Senegal
Intellectual Property in SenegalSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Cameroon
Intellectual Property in CameroonSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Burundi
Intellectual Property in BurundiSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Burkina Faso
Intellectual Property in Burkina FasoSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
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...
Benin
Intellectual Property in BeninSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Tanzania
Intellectual Property in TanzaniaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Tunisia
Intellectual Property in TunisiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Zanzibar Trademarks
Zanzibar trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are...
Zanzibar Patents
Zanzibar patents are valid for 10 years from the filing date and annual...
Franchise Ideas
Buying a franchise is an alternative option for entrepreneurs who don’t want...
Legal Representation when Starting a Franchise
A business that has set out its systems and procedures, and is trading...
Zanzibar
Intellectual Property in ZanzibarSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Zambia
Intellectual Property in ZambiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Madagascar
Intellectual Property in MadagascarSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Ghana
Intellectual Property in GhanaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Botswana
Intellectual Property in BotswanaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Algeria
Intellectual Property in AlgeriaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Madrid Protocol
The Madrid Protocol is an international treaty designed to simplify the...
Hague Agreement
The Hague Agreement is an organisation that facilitates registration and...
Seychelles Trademarks
Seychelles trademarks are valid for 7 years from the filing date and are...
Seychelles Patents
Seychelles patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing and annual...
Seychelles
Intellectual Property in SeychellesSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Kenya Trademarks
Kenya trademarks are valid for 10 years from the filing date and are renewable...
Kenya Patents
Kenya patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing. Kenya is a...
Kenya
Intellectual Property in KenyaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Mozambique
Intellectual Property in MozambiqueSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Mozambique Designs
Mozambique designs have an initial term of 5 years from date of filing, with...
Mozambique Trademarks
Mozambique Trademarks may be filed through the ARIPO union where the applicant...
Morocco
Intellectual Property in MoroccoSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Mauritius Designs
Mauritius designs have an initial term of 5 years from date of filing, with...
Mauritius
Intellectual Property in MauritiusSmit & Van Wyk assists with the...
Namibia Designs
Namibia designs have a duration of 15 years from date of filing. Annual...
Namibia
Intellectual Property in NamibiaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Mauritius Patents
Mauritius patents have a duration of 20 years from date of filing. Annual...
Egypt
Intellectual Property in EgyptSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
Angola
Intellectual Property in AngolaSmit & Van Wyk assists with the protection...
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...
Software Patents
Traditional protection of software / computer programs Historically, software...
Trademark Search
Search for possible similar Trademarks It is always advisable to do...