Tag: IntellectualProperty
Functional foods and patent law – medicine or food?
As consumer demand shifts towards healthier lifestyles, the food industry is rapidly evolving beyond traditional nutrition. Diet trends such as keto, vegan and other wellness-focused regimes are driving investment into products that offer more than basic sustenance. These include functional beverages, plant-based alternatives, enhanced infant formulas and botanically enriched foods.
A spicy trade dress dispute – TABASCO® meets Vodka
What do vodka and pepper sauce have in common? Surprisingly, their packaging. In January 2026, the McIlhenny Company filed a lawsuit in a Texas federal court. It targeted Stoli Group (USA) LLC. The claim alleges that Stoli’s new “Halapeño Pepper” vodka infringes on TABASCO® pepper sauce trade dress. This marks the start of a spicy trade dress dispute.
Luxury dupes – IP law, influencers and SARS
The South African media have recently reported growing concern within SARS about the online promotion of so-called “luxury dupes”. Dupes are short for “duplicates” and represent products that mimic well-known luxury brands and are often promoted on TikTok, Instagram and other social platforms, but at a fraction of the price.
Nice Classification 13th edition adoption – key trademark changes
South Africa has officially adopted the 13th Edition of the Nice Classification (NCL 13-26) with effect from 1 January 2026. The World Intellectual Property Office implemented this edition on the same date. The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) gave notice through Practice Note 3 of 2025, published on 9 December 2025. The notice confirms that the updated classification applies to all trademark specifications from 1 January 2026.
