An unlikely and ethereal partnership – Adams & Adams & Design Indaba 2013

In today’s world it could be said that there is a somewhat unlikely and ethereal partnership between a law firm and the world of creativity. “Not in the world of law firm Adams & Adams – where protection and growth of the creative is a given – where the law firm has worked to protect the work of creatives the world over for over a century,” says Mariette du Plessis, senior partner at the firm. “As the official attorneys and... Read More

TIPS FOR THE VIRGIN EXHIBITOR

By Sajidha Gamieldien, senior associate at Intellectual Property law firm Adams & Adams. So, you’ve finally decided to exhibit your product designs, but you’re worried about copycats lurking at the exhibition waiting to pounce on your prized creations. Here are a few helpful pointers to help you navigate your way through the intellectual property dilemma many designers face during exhibitions. Is your design something new which has... Read More

PROTECTING YOUR CREATIVE

“Nausea, disorientation, trouble breathing and an elevated heart rate are all the things I associate with issues as complex as establishing how best to protect ideas, or whether or not I have ideas that need protecting.  In an industry caught up in ideas and creative, at times protecting intellectual property can be the last thing on your list.  I think the fact that Adams & Adams has taken the initiative to sponsor new generations of creative... Read More

Ad agencies: Pause before you pitch

With the Loeries Awards around the corner South African agencies are holding thumbs in the hope that they will walk away with the coveted ‘bird’. “At this time,” says Danie Strachan, partner at Adams & Adams, “it is a good idea to look back at the pitches that are done in order to persuade a client to go ahead with an advertisement. “Advertising agencies normally put a huge amount of effort into creating concepts, campaigns and proposals.... Read More

Who owns the copyright for your photography? What you should know

Eunice Driver is a self-declared photo artist who has been infatuated with visual storytelling from an early age. “I received my first camera the ripe old age of seven.  And so began my love affair with photography,” says Eunice. Eunice’s greatest passions in life are – people, fashion and the arts.  “Photography is a means to express my journey on our planet.   It’s all about exploring the fragments of life and the interactions... Read More

Adams & Adams salutes the spirit of South Africa’s Young Creatives

It’s common knowledge that companies which crush creativity can no longer compete with those who champion the art of ingenuity. South Africa’s leading Intellectual Property Law experts Adams & Adams, sponsors of this year’s Adams & Adams Young Creatives Award at the annual Loeries, is all too cognisant of the role creativity plays in a business’ success.  Equally so, it is dedicated to protecting the originality of the individual... Read More

Over Photoshoping becoming a real issue

Most advertisements stretch the truth somewhat and the average consumer generally knows not to take ads too literally. It has been reported that the average urban dweller is bombarded with around 5000 advertisements a day across all mediums including television, radio, print, outdoor, internet and social media. Most of these advertisements fall somewhere in the gray area  between truthful presentation and outright fibbing. But where is the line and... Read More

Cape Town photographer challenges the copyright on Elton John’s song Nikita

I wrote that famous Elton John song, Nikita! Guy Hobbs, a photographer from Cape Town, has recently filed court proceedings based on copyright infringement in a US District Court against Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin (Sir Elton’s song writing partner and lyricist) and their company Big Pig Music. “Hobbs claims that the lyrics of a song that he wrote, entitled Natasha, was copied in Sir Elton John’s song Nikita. Hobbs claims that the lyrics... Read More

Nandos and Santam’s Creative Maneuvering avoids a run in with the ASA – Press Release

Press Release “As anybody who frequently visits YouTube will tell you, Nando’s is famous for making controversial advertisements. Their latest installment is a spoof of Santam’s advertisement which features Sir Ben Kingsley again, this time in a bar illustrating how easy it is to overlook terms in an insurance contract. In the Nando’s version, a gentleman is standing in a bar that appears suspiciously similar to the bar in the Santam advertisement,... Read More