Calculate Manufacturing cost from Sales Price When designing your patented product for manufacture, think carefully about the price point you need to achieve. The target manufacturing cost will influence the: choice of material; manufacturing method; and channel to market. The maximum manufactured product cost depends on: the price that the end‐customer is prepared to pay, … Read more
Aug 6th, 2020There are three benefits to patenting your invention: Deterrence – this is simply done my marking your product “Patent Pending” or “Patented“; Marketing – when customers see “Patent Pending” stamped on your product, they know it’s “new” and “innovative”; and Protection – a provisional patent reserves your right to secure protection for your idea, but … Read more
Jul 31st, 2020Every product needs an animated video, whether as: an explanatory video for a website; a Facebook, Instagram or Linkedin ad; a market survey tool; or a crowd-funding campaign. Cost to produce an animated video for your product Ask around, the average cost to create an animated video is high – too expensive for most inventors. … Read more
Jul 25th, 2020These are the top South African patent law firms, according to number of South African provisional patents filed in 2019: Patent firm Provisional patents filed Firm 1 193 S&Z 143 Firm 3 92 Firm 4 68 Firm 5 61 Firm 6 51 Firm 7 37 Firm 8 33 Firm 9 31 Firm 10 21 Firm … Read more
Jul 22nd, 2020These are the top South African patent law firms, according to number of South African patents filed (inclusive of provisional, complete and national phase patents): Patent firm Patents filed Firm 1 2,206 Firm 2 2,088 Firm 3 765 Firm 4 542 Firm 5 489 S&Z 315 Firm 7 162 Firm 8 155 Firm 9 137 … Read more
Jul 22nd, 2020You can file patent, trademark and design applications with CIPC online. CIPC migrated to an electronic filing system a few years back, and all applications are now filed electronically. Applicants may create an account with CIPC and file directly. However, it is much simpler and safer to use CIPC online filing systems developed by GlobalIPCo … Read more
Jul 18th, 2020Generally, you cannot patent: An [existing product] made of [a new material] You can only patent something that is “new” and “inventive”. “Inventive” means that an expert in the field would not consider your substitution of material to be obvious. The best way to explain this is by way of example: Let’s assume that belt … Read more
Jul 11th, 2020You cannot patent “benefits”. A valid product patent needs a “new” and “inventive” feature. In respect of each benefit, ask: What feature did I add to yield that benefit Then query: is that added feature “new”? is adding that feature “inventive” (i.e. not obvious to an expert)? For example: Benefit New feature New? Inventive? Modular … Read more
Jul 4th, 2020We have a full-time employment position available for: a CAD draftsman; a product designer / industrial designer; or a graphic designer / logo designer with 3D CAD skills. The job entails creating 3D CAD models for clients’ inventions, and generating patent and design drawings from these models. About us We are primarily a patent and … Read more
Jun 30th, 2020You can now register South African trade marks quickly and affordably online using TM Direct – an online trade mark registration system operated by S&Z Trade Mark Attorneys. The trade mark process To register a South African trade mark using TM Direct: (optional) Conduct a free identical trade mark on the TM Direct webpage. Register … Read more
Jun 28th, 2020Typically, general lawyers used to refer trademark applications to intellectual property law firms. The reason for this was not because advising on trademarks is difficult – sufficiently to understand trademarks in order to advise thereon is relatively simple, and can be learnt within a couple of hours. General lawyers’ discomfort in extending their services to … Read more
Jun 21st, 2020You cannot patent: An [existing product] not including [something that has been removed] Product patents only protect “new features” you are adding. By focussing on removal of a feature, you’re going in the opposite direction. It may be that the existing product was never offered with the superfluous feature removed therefrom. But, arguing that absence … Read more
Jun 14th, 2020Many inventors try to patent a new power source for electronic products, e.g. a solar powered kettle. To be patentable, your new power source must be “new” and “inventive”. Let’s first consider whether the general concept is “new”: some solar energy farms feed power into the grid, so every kettle that is plugged into the … Read more
Jun 2nd, 2020Protect your Corona Virus face mask, face shield and hand sanitiser by registering patents. But, be clever about how you do it. Covid-19 patents The problem with patents for Corona Virus PPE equipment is that the patent will only become legally enforceable in about 3-4 years from now – considering that there should be a … Read more
May 28th, 2020You cannot patent: An [existing product] for [doing something new] The reason is that product patents focus on “new features” you are adding. And, nothing after “for” is introducing a new feature – it is introducing a new application / use. The simple rule when considering whether your product is “new” (and, therefore, patentable) is … Read more
May 24th, 2020