Bringing you the latest news and views from across Africa.
The Gauteng Division of the High Court recently handed down a significant judgment in Northbound Processing (Pty) Ltd v South African Diamond and Precious Metals Regulator & Others (Case No. 2025-072038, 30 June 2025, DJ Smit AJ). While the case primarily concerned interim relief compelling the release of a refining licence, it has attracted wider attention because of an ethical issue in Northbound’s heads of argument: the citation of non-existent cases generated by an AI legal research tool.
South Africa is on the cusp of a significant transformation in its intellectual property (IP) law, with upcoming Patents and Designs Amendment Bills poised to reshape how intellectual property is protected and regulated in the country.
On 1 September 2025, The Fair Competition Commission (“FCC”) in Tanzania announced the launch of a mandatory trademark recordation system for Tanzania Mainland. All trademarks associated with imported goods, regardless of where they are registered, must be formally recorded with the Chief Inspector of Merchandise Marks in the prescribed manner.
When it comes to intellectual property (IP), patents, trade marks, and copyright often take centre stage. Yet, design law is a powerful but underutilised tool in South Africa. A recent judgment in Balser Jan Nienhuis v Africo Solar (Pty) Ltd has brought this into sharp focus, reminding entrepreneurs that design protection can be decisive in safeguarding innovation, deterring copycats, and securing market advantage.
In Mozambique, trade mark registration involves more than the standard ten-year renewal. A unique requirement under the country’s Intellectual Property Code (Articles 138, 153, and 162) mandates the filing of a Declaration of Intention to Use (DIU) every five years to ensure the continued validity and enforceability of the mark.
