Posts Tagged "Knowledge"

Popularisation of Intellectual Property

Posted on Apr 30, 2012

Popularisation of Intellectual Property

INTRODUCTION Intellectual property is commonly regarded as an esoteric branch of the law.  It is characterised by being complex and until recently it has been a little understood and somewhat discrete area of the law.  Its complexity stems from the fact that it has as its subject matter intangible items such as marks, ideas, concepts, goodwill, cultural expressions and the like.  This must be contrasted with tangible goods like vehicles, ships, equipment, household goods, and immovable items such as portions of land, all of which have a physical existence.  The application of the law to...

Read More

NEW Traditional Knowledge Bill – Sui Generis Protection for TK

Posted on Feb 27, 2012

NEW Traditional Knowledge Bill – Sui Generis Protection for TK

If you cannot beat them, join them. For that reason this Chair of IP has decided to announce a NEW sui generis Protection of Traditional Knowledge Bill in the hope that something may yet be done to save us all. Government’s current attempt at protecting traditional knowledge by amending current IP statutes remains an unmitigated disaster, the scope of which is yet to be fully realised. This Chair, among many others, has expressed its distress at the current Traditional Knowledge Bill (likely to be the Protection of Traditional Knowledge Act soon) in no uncertain terms. And despite the...

Read More

The Mad Hatter in Wonderland

Posted on Nov 1, 2011

The Mad Hatter in Wonderland

So, the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) has finally gone ahead and done it.  It has caused the Government to pass the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill (the so-called “Traditional Knowledge Bill”) despite vociferous objections from all quarters.  It has rushed headlong into terrain where no angel would venture through acute trepidation.  It has entered Wonderland and assumed the role of the Mad Hatter.  ”rushed headlong into terrain where no angel would venture through acute trepidation” The Vine Oracle (that is to be found in the vineyards of the Winelands)...

Read More

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE – Legislation in the NEW tradition

Posted on Sep 18, 2011

TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE – Legislation in the NEW tradition

“Ex Africa semper aliquid novi”, which can be freely translated from Latin to mean “there is always something new coming out of Africa”, said Pliny, the ancient Roman writer and scholar. Presumably then, as is the case now, the concept of “new” included an expression of sarcasm and deprecation as in “absurd, nonsensical and ridiculous”. Well, Pliny has been proved right once again. The Government is on the threshold of passing legislation to grant protection of, and the facility to derive revenue from the use of, so-called “traditional knowledge” (TK) – i.e. folklore,...

Read More