CIPC administers all or parts of fifteen (15) pieces of legislation relating to corporate and intellectual property regulation. Its mandate encompasses companies, close corporations, co-operatives, trade marks, patents, designs, aspects of copyright legislation and enforcement of rules and regulations in most of these areas of law. CIPC’s primary institutional mandate is derived from the Companies Act, 2008, which establishes CIPC as a juristic person.
| Legislation | Mandate |
|---|---|
| Companies Amendment Act 16 of 2006 | Regulator: companies, business rescue practitioners, and corporate names; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by companies; accredit dispute resolution agencies; educate and inform about the Act; non-binding opinion and rulings; policy and legislative advice. |
| Companies Amendment Act 17 of 2009 | Regulator: companies, business rescue practitioners, and corporate names; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by companies; accredit dispute resolution agencies; educate and inform about the Act; non-binding opinion and rulings; policy and legislative advice. |
| Co-operatives Administrative Regulations 2016 | Co-operative Administrative regulations. |
| Principles of Good Governance for Co-operatives | Principles of Good Governance for Co-operatives. |
| Co-operatives Amendment Act 6 of 2013 | Regulator: co-operatives; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by co-operatives. |
| Companies Act, 2008 (No 71 of 2008) | Regulator: companies, business rescue practitioners, and corporate names; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by companies; accredit dispute resolution agencies; educate and inform about all laws; non-binding opinions and rulings; policy and legislative advice. |
| Close Corporations Act, 1984 (Act 69 of 1984) | Maintain data, regulate governance of and disclosure by close corporations. |
| Share Blocks Control Act, 1980 (Act 59 of 1980) | Regulator: business names. |
| Co-operatives Act, 2005 (Act 14 of 2005) | Regulator: co-operatives; maintain data; regulate governance of and disclosure by co-operatives. |
| Patents Act, 1978 (Act 57 of 1978) | Register patents; maintain data; perform patent search. |
| Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) (effective in SA from 16 March 1999) | To provide functioning of the PCT co-receiving, designated, and elected offices in terms of PCT. |
| Trade Marks Act, 1993 (Act 194 of 1993) | Register trademarks; maintain data; publish patent journal; administer Court of Commissioner of Patents. |
| Designs Act, 1993 (Act 195 of 1993) | Register designs; maintain data; resolve disputes. |
| Copyright Act, 1978 (Act 98 of 1978) | Provide non-binding advice to the public. |
| Registration of Cinematography Films Act, 1977 (Act 62 of 1977) | Register films; maintain data. |
| Performers Protection Act, 1967 (Act 11 of 1967) | Accredit Collecting Societies; regulate their governance, conduct, and disclosure. |
| The Counterfeit Goods Act | Conduct raids; coordinate search and seizure operations; oversee disposal. |
| Merchandise Marks Act, 1941 (Act 17 of 1941) | Prevent and enforce the unauthorised use of marks. |
| Films and Publications Act, 1996 (Act 65 of 1996) | Prevent and enforce the unauthorised use of marks. |
South Africa is a member of a number of important Treaties and Agreements and ensuring compliance with South Africa’s obligations in terms of these Treaties or Agreements. CIPC administers these treaties on behalf of South Africa. These Treaties and Agreements include the following:
- Paris Convention;
- Patent Co-operation Treaty
- Berne Convention
- Budapest Treaty; and the
- TRIPS Agreement
It is anticipated that South Africa will conclude accession to the Hague Agreement and the Madrid Protocol in the near future, which will require CIPC to administer those Treaties as well.
Practice Notes
| Year | Particulars |
|---|---|
| 2026 |
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| 2025 |
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| 2024 |
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| 2023 |
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| 2022 |
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| 2021 |
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| 2020 |
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| 2019 |
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| 2018 |
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| 2017 |
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| 2016 |
COMPANIES (Merger and Amalgamation Filing Procedure)
Annual Returns
Trade Marks
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| 2015 |
Trade Marks
Practice Notes
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| 2014 |
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| 2012 |
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| 2011 |
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CIPRO Practice Notes
| Practice Note | Subject | Relevant to |
| Practice Note 1 of 2006 | Close Corporations Act, 2005 | Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 1 of 2008 | Close Corporations Act, No 69 of 1984 | Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 2 of 2008 | Ck2s linked to bond registrations/deeds office | Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 3 of 2008 | Notice regarding electronic lodgment of CK1, CK2 and CK2A as well as membership of close corporations by Non-South African citizen | Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 4 of 2008 | Creditors’ voluntary winding-up under Section 351 of Companies Act, 1973 | Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 1 of 2009 | External Companies and Section 21A Companies and Associations | Companies |
| Practice Note 2 of 2009 – Withdrawn | External Companies and Section 21A Companies and Associations | Companies |
| Practice Note 3 of 2009 | Publication of Company and Close Corporation notices in the government gazette and on the CIPRO website: Corporate Laws Amendment Act, 2006 | Companies & Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 4 of 2009 | Notice regarding Electronic and manual lodgment of CK1, CK2 and CK2A | Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 5 of 2009 | Registrar’s Directive on Names of Companies and Close Corporations as well as Defensive Names according to the Companies Act, Act No 61 of 1973 and the Close Corporations Act, Act no 69 of 1984, as amended. | Companies & Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 6 of 2009 Withdrawn with effective date 1 Nov 2012 | Annual Returns for Companies and Close Corporations | Companies & Close Corporations |
Withdrawn Practice Notes
| Practice Note | Subject |
| Practice Note 6 of 2009 | Annual Returns for Companies and Close Corporations |
| Practice Note 7 of 2011 | Restoration by creditor |
| Practice Note 2 of 2011 | Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations |
| Practice Note 5 of 2012 | Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations in terms of Companies Act, 2008 (Act 71 of 2008) |
| GUIDANCE NOTES | |
| 2026 | Guideline 1 of 2026 – Prospectus filing requirements |
| 2025 | Guideline 1 of 2025 – Consequences of non-compliance with director duties |
| 2024 | Guidance of 2024 – Prospectus filing requirements |
| 2023 |
Guideline 2 of 2023 – Beneficial Owner Filing Requirements Guideline 1 of 2023 – The Protection of Personal Information ACT (POPIA) Consent |
| 2020 |
Guideline 2 of 2020 – Director quick reference Guidance on prospectuses– Pre-and post-registration requirements |
| 2019 |
Guidance Note 2 of 2019 – Time periods for filing annual returns and annual financial statements Guidance Note 1 of 2019 – Company, Close Corporation and Co-operative registration numbers to appear on court documents and court orders submitted to CIPC for implementation. |
| 2018 | Guidance Note 1 of 2018 – Guideline for corporate compliance programme |
| 2011 |
Guidance Note 1 of 2011 – Registration of Special Resolutions Guidance Note 2 of 2011 – Registration of companies Guidance Note 3 of 2011 – Changes to external companies Guidance Note 4 of 2011– No more conversions from company to a close corporation Guidance Note 5 of 2011 – Vetting and registration of Prospectuses Guidance Note 6 of 2011 – Conversion of pre-existing companies limited by guarantee in terms of Companies Act 71 of 2008 Guidance Note 7 of 2011 – Conversion of close corporations to companies in terms of Companies Act 71 of 2008 Guidance Note 8 of 2011 – Conversion of par value shares in terms of Companies Act 71 of 2008 |
| 2012 |
Guidance Note 1 of 2012 – Change of financial year end Guidance Note 2 of 2012 – Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations – Withdrawn with effective date 1 Nov Guidance Note 3 of 2012 – Re-instatement of companies and close corporations – Withdrawn with effective date 1 Nov 2012 Guidance Note 4 of 2012 – Rejections in relation to applications for close corporation amendments |
| 2013 |
Guidance Note 1 of 2013 – Amendment of Corporate Constitutions(Memorandum and Articles of Association) Before Expiry Date of Transitional Arrangements Under Companies Act,2008 Guidance Note 2 of 2013 – Members’ signatures on close corporation amendment forms (CK2) |
| Withdrawn Guidance Notes |
Guidance Note 2 of 2012 – Application for deregistration of companies and close corporations Guidance Note 3 of 2012 – Re-instatement of companies and close corporations |
