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Amendments to Trademark Laws

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Mai 24, 2011 (Newsletter Issue 7/11)
South Africa
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New Procedure for Objection to Company Names


South Africa has enacted a new Companies Act (Act No. 71 of 2008) which entered into force on 1 May 2011. The same date saw the birth of the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), which replaced the Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office (CIPRO). The Act has changed the procedure for objections to reserved or registered company names.

The objection to company names is now similar to application procedures before the High Court. Under the previous Act, the objector or his attorney had to address a letter to the registrar, setting out the grounds of objection and the reasons why the registered name was 'undesirable' or 'calculated to cause damage' to the objector. Now the objector has to file a formal application with the Companies Tribunal on a prescribed form, supported by an affidavit which sets out the basis of the dispute. The application must be served on the respondent within 5 days and an answer filed within 20 days, failing which the applicant can apply for default judgement. If an answer is filed, the applicant may file a reply within 15 days after the date of the answer following which the matter is set down for hearing before the Companies Tribunal.

However, the grounds on which an application can be brought remain similar to those of the previous regime, including rights to a trade mark, company, business or protected name registered in terms of applicable legislation. New features introduced by the Act: 1) Company names may now be objected to on the basis of a trade mark application. 2) An objection to a registered company name may be lodged at any time while previously it could no longer be brought after a certain period. 3) The Tribunal may grant an order as to costs.

Source: Spamer Triebel Inc., South Africa