Region: Zimbabwe

How covid-19 has hit anti-counterfeiting in Africa and what brand owners can do to fight back

The pandemic and related effects of lockdown have had a big impact on the continent’s IP ecosystem. Vanessa Ferguson at Von Seidels runs through some of the most significant upheavals and sets out what rights holders should do to safeguard their brands.

27 May 2021

New ARIPO director ‘vision for future’; AAFA counterfeit liability call; Boohoo buys Debenhams – news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at Nike taking a kick at counterfeit footwear manufacturers, USPTO reopening a comment period on state sovereign immunity, ICANN inviting leadership applications, and much more.

26 January 2021

ARIPO elects new director general; INTA elects 2021 president; Mars acquires Kind brand – news digest

In our latest round-up, we look at João Negrão being appointed president of the Boards of Appeal at the EUIPO, GoDaddy launching a new IP tool, and much more.

20 November 2020

Enforcement in Africa: key qualities of a continent-wide brand protection strategy

WTR traverses the whole of Africa to provide brand owners with a comprehensive guide to brand protection across the region.

08 July 2020

Digital revolution in Africa: ARIPO unveils groundbreaking free IP database

The African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO) has launched a free online database as it bids to centralise IP records from across the continent.

19 September 2018

Trump, Brexit and Korean reunification: the political issues weighing on the minds of trademark practitioners

Research from <em>World Trademark Review</em> reveals the political issues that counsel say could significantly impact enforcement efforts, both now and in the future.

07 April 2018

US Senate confirms Iancu, Zimbabwe targets fakes and brands oppose Conor McGregor: news round-up

In our latest news round-up we look at how the Zimbabwe government is pledging to tackle counterfeit goods, the brands being accused of using “underhand tricks” to fool consumers, and much more.

06 February 2018

Zimbabwe clamps down on forged trademarks

A woman from Harare has been convicted under the Zimbabwe Trademarks Act of forging the DStv trademark and falsely claiming that she and her colleagues were authorised MultiChoice agents.

04 January 2018

Trademarks with dictionary meanings risk becoming meaningless in Africa

A string of recent decisions finding that a mark’s ordinary meaning negatively affects its ability to serve as a unique indicator of source could have a significant impact on brand owners

01 May 2017

New legislation tackles effect of ARIPO trademark registrations

The Intellectual Property Tribunal Act 2001 and the Trademarks Amendment Act 2001 have been brought into operation by statutory instruments. The Trademarks Amendment Act updates the Trademarks Act, Chapter 26:04. It is particularly important to international trademark owners and practitioners because it addresses the issue of ARIPO trademark registrations and their effects under national law and practice.

12 November 2010