Inventors often ask us for advice on raising funding for their invention. Up to the end of 2013, the answer was easy – approach SPII to fund prototyping. At that stage, SPII was the only option. The simple reason is that early stage technology is extremely risky – way too risky for the average private … Read more
Sep 10th, 2014Before deciding on your brand and rushing to the South African trademarks office to register and protect it, we suggest first doing some basic homework: Check that the co.za (and other relevant domains) are available. To do this, go to WebAfrica. Check the CIPC trademark records to confirm that no confusingly similar mark is already … Read more
Sep 9th, 2014This service has been suspended! If you have an idea you need to prototype, call us. We specialise in affordable prototyping. Our aim during the prototyping phase is not to design your product for manufacture. It is to determine whether your invention works and justifies further investment. Thereafter, should you wish to manufacture your product, … Read more
Sep 6th, 2014IdeaNav has extended their patent and design filing services to include trade mark registrations. Sara Spiro, joined us in August 2014 – she was previously employed as a trademark attorney at Bowman Gilfillan and Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs. As with our patent, design and prototyping services, our trade mark pricing is the lowest in the industry. … Read more
Sep 6th, 2014People do the strangest things to protect their idea. A few of the steps commonly taken are: Describing your invention in writing and posting the document to yourself by registered post. This is often described as the “poor man’s patent” or a “boere patent”. But, all you end up getting is a document in the … Read more
Sep 6th, 2014We do not patent the following ideas, because that would just be wrong: Recipes – a new formula for a low calorie or energy drink or a new topping for a pizza typically cannot be patented or protected by copyright. There is nothing inventive here. Anyone can make Coca Cola (Virgin, Pick ‘n Pay no … Read more
Sep 5th, 2014IdeaNav now offers product prototyping services through its new prototyping website IdeaPrototype. If you have an idea, come visit us to: protect your idea; create 3D drawings, photorealistic posters and movies of your invention; and rapid prototype your product. We will convert your idea into an alluring product designed to attract investors. Our product developer … Read more
Sep 4th, 2014Most ideas can be protected. New features can be protected by a patent; a new shape can be protected by a design; a written document / drawing / photograph can be protected against copying by copyright; and your brand can be protected by a trademark. Basically, if you can point to a feature on your … Read more
Sep 3rd, 2014Trademark attorneys are increasingly advising registration of 3D trade marks. Traditionally, if I designed a new soap dispenser, I would typically: (i) approach a patent attorney to identify new technical features that may be patented; (ii) discuss with my patent attorney filing design registrations to protecting the shape of my dispenser; and (iii) protect the … Read more
Sep 1st, 2014You can register your logo or brand directly with CIPC without first conducting a trade mark registrability search. However, you may find out 14 months later that your application has been refused due to a conflicting, pre-existing mark on the trade mark register. Not only will this pose an obstacle to you acquiring any enforceable … Read more
Sep 1st, 2014Anthony van Zantwijk – expert IP valuator Qualifications and background: BSc (Civil) Engineering, LLB cum laude, LLM (Tax), FSAIIPL Registered patent attorney and IP valuator About me: I am an intellectual property attorney with more than 20 years’ experience in negotiating, structuring and drafting international IP commercialisation transactions for many of South Africa’s multinational companies. … Read more
Aug 22nd, 2014South African Patents Act no. 57 OF 1978 (with comments) (as at 1 January 2015) General 2. Definitions In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates: “agent” means, except in section 56 (2) (e), a patent agent or a patent attorney mentioned in section 20 or an attorney mentioned in section 22; “applicant” includes the … Read more
Jul 20th, 2014If you have an idea, and wish to protect it, start by filing patent in South Africa. A South African provisional patent application reserves your rights to file patents (practically) worldwide for a period of 12 months. And, it only costs $49 through GlobalIPCo or $99 through Iptica. See our provisional patent drafting and filing … Read more
Jun 7th, 2013Try our online patent renewal system. It is safe and simple to use. And, you will save on patent renewal fees. We have designed our renewal system to ensure that you cannot make mistakes: you insert only your patent number. No further information is required; the system displays an image of your patent to confirm … Read more
Jun 6th, 2013Many people overpay for patent annuities. We manage over 1,500 patents worldwide for more than 100 users, offering the most affordable renewal fees to South African patentees. Using our online patent renewal system will save you between 30% and 70% on patent annuities, depending on the country. And, as patents are added to our system, … Read more
Jun 6th, 2013