The custodian of IP in South Africa
Our first core function is to produce the highest level of academic research output in all areas of Intellectual Property (IP) Law, and to serve the University in this capacity. To this end the Chair has introduced two unique post-graduate programmes in IP Law to offer the highest level of IP legal tuition possible, stimulate the volume of academic research in these fields and widen access to legal eduction in this field. The introduction of the LLM (IP Law) and the PGDip (IP Law) is a first for a South African University and has established Stellenbosch University as the leading tertiary institute …
Our second core function is the promotion of South African Intellectual Property (IP) both locally and abroad. It is without doubt that South African legal development has neglected the field of Intellectual Property Law and, therefore, one of the goals of the Chair is to ensure our laws are brought in step with International Intellectual Property Law. To this end, the Chair offers its assistance to Government to help draft and pass the necessary legislation, and to advise against the introduction of unfounded statutes …
Our third core function is the protection of Intellectual Property (IP) Rights at Stellenbosch University as well as the rigorous protection of Intellectual Property Law itself against unsound legal developments or practice trends that flow from underdeveloped doctrine, political motivation or careless legal harmonisation. Through its close ties with the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the Department of Trade and Industry …