Legal updates and opinions
News / News
South Africa: trade marks as valuable assets to raise funding
By Janine Hollesen and Donvay Wegierski, Directors
The registration of trade marks has numerous advantages one of which is that as registered trade marks are assets they can be used as collateral to raise funding. The Trade Marks Act makes specific provision for the hypothecation of the marks which must however be registered before they could be hypothecated in this way.
This is a further reason to keep in mind when considering whether to file trade mark applications.
In light of the fact that trade mark applications take between 2 – 3 years to proceed to registration in South Africa, it is a good idea to file trade mark applications as soon as possible in order to ensure that these rights can be relied upon if this may be necessary for purposes of raising funding during different phases of a company’s history.
It must also be kept in mind that trade marks can be registered in one or more of 45 classes. If a mark is used or going to be used for different products and services it is important to file trade marks in the relevant classes. Each registration in the different classes is a separate and distinct trade mark registration which could be taken into account by the funders when raising the funding.
If you would like to learn more about Intellectual Property please visit our practice area page.
Latest News
New Code of Good Practice: Dismissal
by Anastasia Vatalidis, Director and Anna Tchalov, Associate On 4 September 2025, the new Code of Good Practice: Dismissal ("New Code") [...]
Balancing union duties and job performance: Association of Mineworkers & Construction Union obo Ntuli v Ferroglobe Silicon Smelters (Pty) Ltd
by Jacques van Wyk, Director and Mike Searle, Candidate Attorney In the construction and engineering sectors, senior employees often [...]
The slippery slope of financial distress
by Eric Levenstein, Director and Head of Insolvency and Business Rescue and Brendan Olivier, Director Negative economic news stories [...]
Reinstatement – not always fair
by Bradley Workman-Davies, Director South Africa’s labour law often elevates reinstatement as the primary remedy for unfair dismissal, but [...]
National Minimum Wage Act: What employers need to know about the 2026 review
by Andre van Heerden, Director, Bradley Workman-Davies, Director and Jacques van Wyk, Director South Africa’s National Minimum Wage Act [...]
Tanzania introduces Trade Mark Rights Recordation for all imports
by Donvay Wegierski, Director and Andreya John, Candidate Attorney As of 1 December 2025, in an initiative administered by the [...]