S&Z started as an IP firm focussing on restructuring multinationals for tax. It then designed and created prototypes for inventors before combining with GlobalIPCo to develop an IP platform for Africa. Today, S&Z is the largest filer of South African patents (2022-2024). Now, S&Z focusses on the SANi patent / trademark – the “best option … Read more
May 26th, 2025Suggestions for the top 5 Nigerian patent and trademark law firms: 1. Leading filer and most technologically advanced Crown & Shields (partner: Kimi Onana) is the leading filer of Nigerian patents and trademarks – able to file large numbers of Nigerian patents and trademarks efficiently and at very competitive rates. In 2022, Crown & Shields was … Read more
May 25th, 2025The top four filers of South African patents for the past 40 months (1 January 2022 to 30 April 2025) were: Firm No. South African Patents Filed 1st: Sibanda & Zantwijk 10,477 2nd: Firm A 7,384 3rd: Firm B 6,311 4th: Firm C 2,479 Sibanda & Zantwijk is consistently the leading South African patent firm … Read more
May 17th, 2025Renewing a Nigerian trademark is easy. The best option is to renew Nigerian trademarks through PayAnnuity. This is how to do it in 4 easy steps: Step 1 – register with PayAnnuity. Add your email address and password. There is no registration or licence fee. You only pay PayAnnuity if a trademark renewal is instructed. … Read more
May 16th, 2025The easiest and most cost-effective way to renew a Nigerian trademark is through PayAnnuity (a renewal system operated by GlobalIPCo). Nigerian trademarks are renewable: on the 7th anniversary of the Nigerian trademark filing date; and every 14 years thereafter. The cost to renew a Nigerian trademark is about $160. Simply register on PlayAnnuity, upload your … Read more
May 10th, 2025The mark “SANI” is a registered trademark in class 45 (Legal services) within South Africa (registration no. 2022/28010) and Nigeria (registration no. F/TM/O/2022/90508). The SANi trademark is used in connection with a combination patent and trademark that covers both South African and Nigeria. SANi combination patents and trademarks are only offered by GlobalIPCo, S&Z and … Read more
May 4th, 2025The easiest way to file a trademark in Nigeria is through the GlobalIPCo online filing system – a filing platform that specialises in securing IP protection in Africa. If you are a law firm, the cost to obtain a Nigerian trademark is: Filing: $126 Registration: $70 Step 1: Choose a Word mark or a Logo … Read more
May 3rd, 2025Unsystematic risk is the last layer of risk one accounts for when valuing intellectual property. To understand unsystematic risk, it is best to explain what it does not include: When determining the risk associated with intellectual property, one accounts for: the lowest level of risk – the risk-free rate, i.e. a government bond with a … Read more
Apr 26th, 2025S&Z became the largest filer of South African patents (2022, 2023, 2024) by offering the best fixed-cost South African filing options and the ability to upgrade the South African patent to a SANi combination patent (that includes Nigeria): South African patentTotal cost (includes professional and official fees)File South African patent$475 Respond to office actionFreeRequest accelerated … Read more
Apr 19th, 2025Law firm marketing using ChatGPT is extremely effective. Last week a client contacted me because ChatGPT recommended us as the “go-to” firm for intellectual property valuation. I was flattered, but how? We don’t market on ChatGPT. Well, you can’t buy ChatGPT “Adwords”; you need content – just not the mass-content created for SEO purposes. Somehow, … Read more
Feb 15th, 2025We identified South African companies with the highest R&D activity in 2000 and tracked their R&D activity over the next 25 years, to determine whether external factors may have influenced their level of R&D activity. In 2000, the nine most active companies filed 113 South African provisional patents. This reduced by +90% over the next … Read more
Jan 8th, 20252024 reinforced the significant change in South Africa’s patent landscape since the pandemic. Provisional patents South African provisional patents are generally filed only by South African inventors, as the first step of the patent process. The number of provisional patents filed is a barometer of: the R&D activity within South Africa; and the number of … Read more
Dec 29th, 2024When you’ve maxed-out toppings for a pizza 🍕, but still need more flavour, try this patented taste-booster: place a flavour material (e.g. Anise, Basil, Mint, Marjoram, Thyme, Cinnamon, Almond, Coconut, Pineapple, Orange, Strawberries, Raspberries, Cloves, Lemon and Peach) in warm water until the water absorbs the taste of the material; add the flavoured water to … Read more
Aug 30th, 2024The magic of sesame seeds: It seems that, to preserve food naturally, you simply need to add sesame seeds / Tahina. The addition of sesame seeds to peanut butter 🥜 was patented by Sidney Musher in 1927, who claimed that it made the peanut butter last 3 times longer. In 2006, Eli Budman and Marcelo … Read more
Aug 16th, 2024Pre-1940s food patents at the best! They’re concise and get the job done without fanfare. In 1930, Alva Shroyer discovered the solution to greasy doughnuts 🍩 and simply patented: “adding vinegar to doughnut dough”. … to repel the grease in which doughnuts are fried. Clear, short and effective. GlobalIPCo – easily file a provisional patent … Read more
Jul 26th, 2024