Playing your cards right: trade secret or patent?
Understand the strengths and weaknesses of trade secrets and patents before choosing one or the other for your Intellectual Property (IP).
What can be trademarked — and what cannot?
At first glance, the topic of trademark eligibility seems obvious, but the reality is a lot more complex.
Everyday IP: Inventing music
Music is a copyright-eligible form of original art, but plenty of inventions past and present ensure that it is played and heard as the artists intended.
What if all IP rights lasted forever?
The concept of Intellectual Property (IP) rights that last forever makes for a fascinating hypothetical — but, in practice, it would be detrimental to creation and innovation.
The now and future of MENAP IP: a roundtable discussion
Our expert panel discuss the current state of IP in the MENAP region and what the future holds.
Cooperation and harmony: IP treaties in MENAP
IP treaties ensure enormous advantages for all kinds of import and export transactions.
Pick your patent poison: to renew upfront or not?
South Africa provides a practical case study of a jurisdiction where only renewals are payable.
MENAP: case law in IP procedures
We examine the interaction of Intellectual Property (IP) procedures with local legislation and case law.
Can memes be Intellectual Property?
Memes are now a pervasive element of popular culture, but where (and how) do they fit into the existing IP landscape?
Publication and opposition issues in MENAP trademark registrations
The publication of a trademark is an essential step in the registration process, but it does not mean registration has occurred or is guaranteed in the near future.
Trademark complications: absolute and relative grounds in MENAP countries
The examination stage of a trademark application, which determines if it will be rejected or progress toward registration, involves specific procedures that must be followed to the letter.