Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights

Trademarks (including service marks) are valid for an initial period of ten years and are renewable indefinitely for further 10 year periods. Patents are granted for 20 years, normally without an option to renew. The holder of a patent or trademark must pay an annual fee in order to preserve its validity.

Patents and trademarks may be licensed but where this involves the payment of royalties to non-resident licensors prior approval of the licensing agreement must be obtained from the Department of Trade and Industry. South Africa is a signatory to the Berne Copyright Convention