RNMS advised and conducted an IP due diligence investigation on behalf of a telecoms company in relation to a target company in the Fintech sector.

RNMS continuously advises a renowned publishing house on matters relating mainly to copyright. These matters include copyright advisory and opinions, and copyright disputes. In addition, RNMS has advised the publishing company in a transaction relating to the sale and adequate transfer of IP from a third party to the publishing company.

RNMS advised its client and successfully defended a complaint lodged against its client with the ARB (the advertising regulatory board) in relation to an advertising campaign launched by the client. What the client noted as particularly beneficial was RNMS’ ability to advise on the matter taking into consideration the commercial objectives of its advertising campaign.

We advised a South African software development company in a copyright infringement matter, relating to the development and ownership of copyright in a cattle management computer software program. Our advice included attending to the matter from inception to finalisation, including appearing on behalf of the client before the Supreme Court of Appeal and ultimately ensuring that, once judgment was handed down in favour of the client, the costs awarded to the client were appropriately taxed and paid to the client.

RNMS advised a university on the application of the IPR Act to its proposed conclusion of a commercialisation agreement with several third parties. The IPR Act is the legislation that determines how ownership of IP emanating from publicly financed research and development is owned and commercialised.

We advised a company seeking to invest in the production of a new film by considering the terms of the proposed structure of the transaction, and by drafting a script writing agreement between the company and the script writer (both of whom would be shareholders in the film production company) that is fair to both parties, but which specifically preserved the company’s interests in the script to be developed.

RNMS advised a client seeking to sell its IP to a related company in the United States. We were responsible for advising the client on all IP related matters, drafting the agreements relating to the transaction, and drafting an application to the Reserve Bank of South Africa, which is required to approve transactions involving the sale of IP from a South African entity to a related offshore entity.

We advised a South African software development company and assisted it with drafting a service level agreement and web app development agreement relating to its ongoing projects.

A South African company sought to dispose of its rights in intellectual property to a Singaporean entity. We were required to provide an opinion and comments on, amongst others, the IP considerations that are relevant to the proposed transaction, including considering the chain of ownership when transferring the IP, the application of exchange control regulations to the transaction and the pricing of the IP to be assigned.

We advised an innovative company that had commissioned a Danish university to undertake research and development in the food technology industry. We advised on various IP issues relating to the proposed transaction, including reviewing and commenting on the proposed agreement between the parties and the impact of IP policies governing tertiary institutions (both in South Africa and in Denmark).

We are responsible for the management of a beverage manufacturing company’s trade mark portfolio. This includes providing strategic advice on the protection, maintenance and enforcement of this client’s important trade mark assets, as well as conducting portfolio audits, strategically advising on the management of trade marks, conducting clearance searches, advising on inherent registrability, as well as classification, filing and prosecuting trade mark applications and enforcing the client’s trade marks. RNMS renders these services in South Africa and in other countries around the world (including the United Kingdom).