Latest News & Updates

Intellectual property (IP) offices and organizations around the globe are coming together to champion diversity within our offices and organizations and across the entire IP landscape. In countries worldwide, women face challenges and barriers in accessing resources, resulting in their stark underrepresentation in the IP ecosystem.

The above quotation is a depiction of the world`s current economic condition. Some companies have high debts and as a result may be exposed to more financial risk. A company is a fundamental part of the community in which it does business and it has a direct impact on the economic and the social welfare of that community.

One of the many purposes of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008 (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) is to provide for a predictable and effective environment for the efficient regulation of companies and other juristic persons, as described in section 7 of the Act. 

The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is a juristic person and organ of state established in terms of section 185(1) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (as amended) (Companies Act). The CIPC has a statutory responsibility in terms of section 187(2) (b) to monitor proper compliance with the Companies Act.

We are pleased to inform you that Learn-i-Biz, the CIPC e-learning platform launched in 2022, has been receiving a positive feedback from an increasing number from those enrolled on the programme since it was launched. The platform is one of the tools aimed at empowering business and potential business owners with deeper knowledge and understanding of the responsibilities of a company director.

A company is a juristic person from the date its incorporation is registered, and exists until the date upon which its name is removed from the companies register. When a company is removed from the register of companies it ceases to exist as a juristic person and is dissolved from that date. A distinction must be made between an annual return and a tax return.

This is an application in terms of which the following relief is sought by the Applicant: "1. That the decision, that was taken on 13 December 2021 by the Second Respondent in her capacity as the presiding member of the First Respondent, is reviewed and set aside."

Creating impact in the innovation ecosystem and reaching disadvantaged communities has been central to the Inventor Assistance Program (IAP), helping turn innovative ideas into commercial assets. The IAP is the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) flagship project, launched in partnership with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).

Section 188(2)(b)(i) of the Companies Act, 71 of 2008, infers on the CIPC the responsibility to provide guidance to the public of the nature and dynamics of company law, by issuing non-binding opinions on the interpretation of any provision of this Act. 

The information contained in this presentation is published by Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) and is provided for presentation purposes only. Accordingly, this presentation is intended to provide readers a broad understanding of the general principles being discussed that pertain to the topic.

The Constitutional Court adjudicated its first patent case in Ascendis Animal Health (Pty) Limited v Merck Sharpe Dohme Corporation (“Ascendis case”). In 2011, Ascendis, the applicant, filed an application for the revocation of Patent 1998/10975 (“the patent”).

The old Companies Act 61 of 1973 provided in section 105 that every company is obliged to keep a register of its members (that is to say, its shareholders) which contains their names and addresses and a statement of the shares that they hold. Section 113 says that the company's share register may be inspected by any shareholder "and by any other person" on payment of a small fee.

The Importance of Trade Mark Protection

Trade marks play a crucial role in the economic landscape, and its significance for businesses operating in and from South Africa cannot be overstated. A trade mark is a distinctive sign or symbol used in the marketplace to identify and differentiate identical or similar goods or services of one trader from those of another.