South Africa: Copyright

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Intellectual property law and copyright law thought leadership, articles, podcasts, videos and webinars from expert sources across the legal world. Explore insights covering topics such as licensing and syndication, patent law, trade secrets and trademark law.

When Platforms Are Not Liable: Big Shift In Copyright Law

This comprehensive legal update covers recent developments across South African law, from pharmaceutical naming regulations and copyright platform liability to VAT amendments affecting insurance and digital services. The collection explores emerging challenges in intellectual property protection, cryptocurrency regulation, and data brokering, while examining how AI and digital transformation are reshaping traditional legal frameworks.

South Africa IP

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ENS

Al Dra ʼN Aap ʼN Goue Ring / The Devil Wears PRADA 2

Het jy al ooit gewonder wie betaal vir wie wanneer persoonlike regte, handelsmerke en kopiereg in ŉ film so vervleg raak dat geen mens meer weet wat aangaan nie.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

The Devil Wears Prada: Who Owns What And Why The Structure Of Intellectual Property Matters

The Devil Wears Prada is more than a cultural phenomenon—it's a complex intellectual property ecosystem involving multiple rights holders, from the original author to the luxury brand itself. This analysis examines how copyright, trademark, and personality rights intersect to create a legally sustainable framework that enables both creative freedom and commercial exploitation in the entertainment industry.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Music Royalties In South Africa And Who Gets Paid Under Copyright Law

When a song generates millions of streams across digital platforms, a simple question follows: who actually earns the royalties, and how much do they receive?

South Africa IP

Ai

Andersen in South Africa

Cosplay And Intellectual Property: Where Fandom Meets Legal Reality

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Key Legal Risks When Contracting For Open-Source Software

South Africa Media & IT

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ENS

News Platform Takedowns vs. Formal Legal Proceedings: A Practical Guide For Rights Holders In The Digital Age

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Platform Takedowns vs. Formal Legal Proceedings: A Practical Guide For Rights Holders In The Digital Age

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

AU Summit Adopts Eight Annexes To The AfCFTA IP Protocol

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

AI Caricatures: What Are The Legal Concerns?

South Africa Technology

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ENS

Copyright Meets Insurance Coverage: Insurance Protection In The Age Of Intellectual Property Risk – Lessons From The US Judgment

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

A Fragmented Landscape: Bridging The Copyright Gap In Africa

South Africa IP

I

Inventa

Can You Own A Move? The Serve, The Swing And The IP Reality

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

AI In Entertainment: Redefining Creativity, Ownership And The Future Of Storytelling

South Africa Technology

E

ENS

South Africa Publishes Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations For Public Comment

South Africa Technology

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ENS

Why You Need To Engage And Comment On The Draft South Africa National AI Policy

South Africa Media & IT

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ENS

Chuckles, But No Laughing Matter

South Africa Commercial

BI

Barnard Inc.

Newsflash | Consumer Protection Act Amendment Regulations, 2026

South Africa Media & IT

E

ENS

Prediction Markets And South Africa’s Crypto Gap: When An Event Bet Starts Looking Like A Financial Product

South Africa Technology

E

ENS

AI, IP And Class Actions: Navigating A New Global Litigation Frontier

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), intellectual property (IP), and class action law is creating a new and complex risk landscape for businesses worldwide.

South Africa IP

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ENS

Business Licensing Bill, 2025: Streamlining Trade Or Stifling Enterprise?

The South African government published the Business Licensing Bill, 2025 (the "Bill") on 26 September 2025.

South Africa Government

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ENS

General Increase Of Official Fees

In October, EGIPA also published various ministerial decisions affecting the official fees payable relating to the prosecution of applications, registrations, and maintenance of registrations in respect of patents...

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Employer Of Record Arrangements: An Overview Of The Overlooked Intellectual Property Implications

Employer of Record ("EOR") services have become increasingly popular among businesses seeking to expand internationally, access global talent and navigate complex employment regulations without the need to establish a local legal entity.

South Africa Employment

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ENS

Eminem Vs. Meta: When Music Meets IP Law

South Africa IP

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ENS

When AI Meets IP: A Lawsuit Waiting To Happen?

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Copyright 101: Understanding The Basics

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Lesotho Deepens IP Reforms With ARIPO, Targets Key Protocol Ratifications

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

When Luxury Meets Legacy: The Prada-Kolhapuri Dispute And The Limits Of GIs, Trade Marks And Cultural IP

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Re-instatement Of Companies And Close Corporations Process Digitised By CIPC

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

OAPI Championing Copyright To Increase Economic Growth

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Painting The Future: NFTs And The New Canvas For African Artists

South Africa IP

I

Inventa

Aletia Oberholster And Fungi Tshabalala On AI Content, Copyright Protection And More (Podcast)

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Where Did The Waka Waka Royalties Go?

South Africa IP

E

ENS

OAPI Championing Copyright To Increase Economic Growth

OAPI, in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Government of Cameroon, hosted the joint regional conference in Yaoundé on 28 and 29 July 2025.

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Painting The Future: NFTs And The New Canvas For African Artists

The way we create art reflects how we engage with the world around us. For many artists, creation is rooted in personal identity, cultural heritage, and lived experience.

South Africa IP

I

Inventa

Aletia Oberholster And Fungi Tshabalala On AI Content, Copyright Protection And More (Podcast)

Aletia Oberholster And Fungi Tshabalala On AI Content, Copyright Protection And More

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

Where Did The Waka Waka Royalties Go?

When people think of music rights, they often imagine recording deals and streaming platforms, but the real engine behind long-term revenue lies in Intellectual Property ("IP") rights in the song itself.

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Labubu vs. Counterfeiters: When Collectibles Meet IP Law

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ENS

Master Your Rights: How South African Artists Can Use Contracts To Secure Ownership Of Their Masters

For many South African musicians, landing a record deal feels like the breakthrough they have been working toward...

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

What Does This Meme? How Copyright Protected The "Success Kid" Meme

We've all seen it, possibly even used it – the photo of a little boy in the green and white shirt, on the beach, with a fist full of sand and determined look on his face – which has been doing the rounds since 2007...

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Securing Intellectual Property Ownership In Outsourced Product Development

Innovation often relies on collaborations between operational companies and outsourced development specialists.

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

A Tale Of Charms And Copycats – The Poetry IP Scandal

This story is currently making headlines in South Africa, with well-known and beloved local brand, Poetry, embroiled in a growing controversy over alleged design imitation and intellectual property infringement...

South Africa IP

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ENS

Compulsory Licences - The ALLCOPY Copyright Case

South Africa IP

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ENS

Dua Lipa May Be Levitating, But South African Copyright Law Is Pretty Static

South Africa IP

E

ENS

South Africa's Copyright Amendment Bill: Balancing Creators' Rights And Public Access In The Digital Age

South Africa IP

I

Inventa

Compulsory Licences – Part 2

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Who Really Owns Your Code? Understanding Authorship And Ownership In Software Copyright

South Africa IP

BI

Barnard Inc.

There Is No Such Thing As A "Sole & Exclusive" Licence

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Advancing IP Education In Africa: Highlights From The WIPO-South Africa Summer School On Intellectual Property

South Africa IP

AA

Adams & Adams

Puck It: Fanatics Wins Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Hockey Puck-Shaped Memorabilia

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Compulsory Licences

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Meta's AI Training Under Fire: Copyright Infringement Allegations

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Walt Disney's Biggest Mistake: A Lesson In Controlling Your IP

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Missed Opportunity: The Birkenstock Dilemma

South Africa IP

E

ENS

Protecting IP In South African Esports: A Strategic Approach To Sponsorship

South Africa IP

WW

Webber Wentzel

AI, Copyright, And Training Data: The Legal Questions That Remain

BI

Barnard Inc.

From Arial To Adversarial: Has Your Company Received A Letter Of Demand Over Unauthorised Font Use? Copyright Pitfalls To Be Aware Of

South Africa IP

E

ENS

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Latest Videos

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Podcast | OFM | Copyrights Are Relevant To All Businesses In Some Form | Waldo Steyn | 15 APR 2021

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ENS

ENSafrica Webinar | How POPIA Affects Your IP (Video)

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ENS

SA's Eligibility In US Trade Scheme At Stake (Video)

Tf

Tabacks

You Have A Marketing And PR Strategy - What About Your IP Strategy? (Video)

KI

KISCH IP

Social Media Images - When Can You Use Them (Video Content)

PP

Phukubje Pierce Masithela Attorneys

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