South Africa: Patent

A South African High Court ruling has revoked 16 registered designs for arched deck boards, finding that pre-registration commercial disclosures destroyed their novelty.

Intellectual property valuations in South Africa's entrepreneurial landscape present unique challenges shaped by international trends and local legislation. This analysis explores the complexity of determining IP value across different business stages, from startups navigating the 'valley of death' to established companies facing mergers and acquisitions. The framework examines how sustainability, technology readiness levels, and risk mitigation strategies converge to unlock the true value of intellectual c

IP valuation is a specialized field rooted in sustainability, illustrated by two interdependent trend lines: cash flow and sustainable growth. Following an IP valuation, principled negotiation techniques become essential for IP rights holders and entrepreneurs to successfully position value, growth, and sustainability when engaging with buyers or investors.

What a dramatic end to the 2025 AFCON tournament! Senegal secured its second AFCON title and one of its anchor players, Sadio Mané  won the best player of the tournament award.

An interesting matter dealing with children's food packaging was reported recently, where the underlying dispute overlaps beautifully with the world of Intellectual Property - in particular...

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Round of 16 and quarterfinals have concluded, with eight nations exiting the tournament: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon...

Lesotho's recent adoption of a National IP Policy (2025) and a Research and Innovation Policy (2021) reflects a broader strategy to build a knowledge-based economy and expand global trade, particularly in sectors like textiles, water, and agriculture. Between 2019 and 2023, Lesotho processed over 2,500 trademark applications and 1,300 patent and design filings through ARIPO, signalling growing international interest in its IP environment.

South Africa is on the cusp of significant intellectual property law reform, with a new Patent Bill and Design Amendment Bill expected to be presented to the South African parliament in early 2026. The Department of Trade and Industry, together with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), recently hosted a stakeholder workshop on 23 September 2025 in Pretoria to outline the anticipated changes and gather feedback from the broader IP community.

South Africa and Morocco are stepping up their investments in hydrogen research and development, aiming to position themselves as leaders in the emerging hydrogen economy.