intellectual property - bowmanslaw.com · • kcb bank in a copyright and trademark ... • airbnb...
TRANSCRIPT
INTELLECTUALPROPERTY
2
Contents
04 OurFirm
05 OurFootprintinAfrica
06 OurEastAfricaIntellectualPropertyPractice
08 OurSignatureMatters
12 Accolades
14 KeyContacts
Intellectual Property
3
CONTENTS PAGE
Our Firm
WithsixofficesinfourAfricancountries
andover400specialisedlawyers,we
aredifferentiatedbyourindependenceand
thequalityoflegalservicesweprovide.
WedrawonouruniqueknowledgeoftheAfrican
businessenvironmentandin-depthunderstanding
ofthesocio-politicalclimatetoadviseclientsona
widerangeoflegalissues.Ouraimistoassistour
clientsinachievingtheirobjectivesassmoothly
andefficientlyaspossiblewhileminimisingthe
legalandregulatoryrisks.
Ourclientsincludecorporates,multinationals
andstate-ownedenterprisesacrossarangeof
industrysectorsaswellasfinancialinstitutions
andgovernments.
Ourexpertiseisfrequentlyrecognisedby
independentresearchorganisations.Wehave
beennamedAfricanLegalAdviseroftheYear
byDealMakersforthelastfourconsecutiveyears
andSouthAfricanLawFirmoftheYearfor2018
intheChambersAfricaAwardsforExcellence
andtheSouthAfricanProfessionalServices
Awards.Wewerealsotheonlyfirmthatwas
‘highlycommended’intheAfricanLawFirmof
theYear–LargePracticecategoryattheAfrican
LegalAwardshostedbyLegal Weekandthe
CorporateCounselAssociationofSouthAfrica
in2017andwontheTechnology,Mediaand
TelecommunicationsTeamoftheYearAward.
Bowmans is a leading Pan-African law firm. Our track record of providing specialist legal services, both domestic and cross-border, in the fields of corporate law, banking and finance law and dispute resolution, spans over a century.
4
BOWMANS
CONTENTS PAGE
Our Footprint in Africa
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Bowmans offices
Relationship firm
Significant transaction or advisory experience
SOUTH AFRICA MOZAMBIQUE
NIGERIA
KENYA
TANZANIA
UGANDA
Weprovideintegratedlegalservices
throughoutAfricafromsixoffices(Cape
Town,DaresSalaam,Durban,Johannesburg,
KampalaandNairobi)infourcountries
(Kenya,SouthAfrica,TanzaniaandUganda).
WeworkcloselywithleadingNigerianfirm,
UdoUdoma&Belo-Osagie,andMozambique-
basedboutiquefirm,TacianaPeãoLopes&
AdvogadosAssociados.Wealsohavestrong
relationshipswithotherleadinglawfirms
acrosstherestofAfrica.
WearerepresentativesofLexMundi,aglobal
associationwithmorethan160independentlaw
firmsinallthemajorcentresacrosstheglobe.
Thisassociationgivesusaccesstothebest
firmsineachjurisdictionrepresented.
5
Intellectual Property
CONTENTS PAGE
Witharobusthistoricaleconomicgrowth
rateandamiddleclasspopulationofover
35million,EastAfricaremainstheinvestment
destinationofchoiceforinvestorsseekingto
expandoperationsintoAfrica.Theentryof
multiplebrandsintotheregionhasmadethe
abilitytoregisterandprotecttherightsthat
investorsandclientsobtainintheirproducts,
servicesandbrandsanessentialsuccess
componentinthebusinessenvironment.
Securingaknowledgeableandexperienced
legaladviserwhounderstandsthelocal
complexitieswiththeappropriatetrack
recordinnavigatingthroughthelegal
landscapeispivotaltothissuccess.
Workingasoneteamcoordinatedacross
threejurisdictionaloffices,ourunparalleled
dedicatedEastAfricaReplacewith
IntellectualProperty(IP)Practicehandles:
• IPlitigationfocusingon
trademarks,patents,designs
andcopyrightinfringement
• multi-jurisdictionalanticounterfeit
actions/raids;
• Trademarkoppositionsandexpungement
mattersinKenya,TanzaniaandUganda;
• Designandpatentrevocations;
• Brandmigrationadvice;
• IPduediligence;
• Franchising;and
• CompetitionandIPopinions.
Weactforclientsbothlocallyand
internationallyundertheMadridand
ARIPOsystemsofregistrationand
helpthemwithnationalprotectionin
othercountriesworldwidethrougha
networkofassociateagentlawfirms.
Ourclientsincludeleadingmultinationals
fromaroundtheworldwithinthefinancial
services,manufacturing,pharmaceutical
andhealthcare,andtechnology,media
andtelecommunicationssectors.
Our East Africa Intellectual Property Practice
Bowmans’ “dynamic and
deeply experienced team is
among the best in the country;
it shows great professionalism
and knows how to get things
done”. –WorldTrademark
Review1000,2018
6
BOWMANS
CONTENTS PAGE7
Intellectual Property
CONTENTS PAGE
Ourrecentexperienceincludesactingfor/advising:
Commercial IP transactions
• KansaiPlasconAfricaLtdinrelationtotheir
IPrightsasaresultoftheacquisitionofa
100%ofSadolinPaints.(KenyaandUganda).
• ABInBevinthedisposalofcertain
brandsinBotswana,Malawi,
MozambiqueandSwaziland.
• Variousbrandownersandlicensees
inrespecttofranchising,distribution
andlicensingarrangements,both
withinKenyaandwithinEastAfrica.
Filing, prosecution and strategy transactions
• AGRAontrademarkstrategyandprocesses
relatingtoEthiopia,Ghana,Kenya,
Mozambique,TanzaniaandUganda.
• Cowbellonthefilingof20trademarks
undertheinternationalregistration
systemknownasMadrid.Thedesignated
countriesinclude:Botswana,theEuropean
Union,Ghana,IndiaandMadagascar.
Wecontinuetomaintaintheportfolioof
someoftheoutstandingtrademarks.
• DiageoBrandsB.V.inoppositiontothe
registrationoftheBLUELABELtrademark.
• EquityBankLtdonthestrategyanddesign
portfolioof21brandsinsevencountries(witha
possibilityofupto17countries)acrossAfrica.
• EquityBankLtdonthestrategytobe
followedandfilingofover35trademarksin
sevencountriesinAfrica,including:Burundi,
DemocraticRepublicofCongo(DRC),Rwanda,
SouthSudan,Tanzania,UgandaandZanzibar.
Wecontinuetomaintaintheportfolio.
• Javainthefilingoffourtrademarksin
16countriesincluding:Botswana,Egypt,
Ethiopia,Ghana,Kenya,Malawi,Morocco,
Namibia,Nigeria,OAPI,SouthAfrica,
Tanzania,Tunisia,ZambiaandZimbabwe.
• PhilipMorrisonthestrategytobefollowed
andfilingofseventrademarksinSouthSudan.
Wecontinuetomaintaintheportfolio.
IP litigation
• BudweiserBudvarNationalCorporation
inatrademarkdisputeoverthe
BUDWEISERtrademark.(Tanzania)
• CIPLAbeforethePharmacy&Poisons
BoardandtheAnti-CounterfeitAgencyfor
breachesofitsintellectualproperty.(Kenya)
• DisneyEnterprisesInc.inaninfringementofthe
MICKEYMOUSElogomarkandtheULTIMATE
SPIDERMANanddevicemark.(Kenya)
• GoogleInc.inoppositionproceedings
relatingtoitsBEBAPAYtrademark.(Kenya)
• KansaiPlascon(U)Ltdinanongoing
suitbroughtagainstRegalPaints
(U)Ltdfortrademarkinfringement
andpassingoff.(Uganda)
• KCBBankinacopyrightandtrademark
infringementandpassingoffsuitfiledby
NewtonOirereNyambariga.(Kenya)
• MarriottHotelsinatrademark
infringementmatterinvolvingthe
MARRIOTTtrademark.(Kenya)
• NairobiJavaHouseLtdinaHighCourt
CivilAppealfollowingthedecisionofthe
Registrarfollowingtrademarkopposition
proceedingsinKampala.(KenyaandUganda)
• Proctor&Gamble(PG)inanadvertising
disputeagainstUnileverwhoarguethat
PG’stelevisionandbillboarddetergent
advertisingcampaigncontravenedtheCode
ofAdvertisingPracticeandDirectMarketing
publishedbytheAdvertisingStandards
BodyofKenya.Unileverarguesthatthe
campaignamountstocomparativeadvertising
andiswithoutsubstantiation.(Kenya)
• ScotchWhiskyAssociationinatrademark
disputeoverMcKenzieRoyalWhisky.(Tanzania)
Our Signature Matters
8
BOWMANS
CONTENTS PAGE
Bowmans “combines a stellar
domestic trademark practice
with exceptional international
capabilities”. –WorldTrademark
Review1000,2018
“If you think of IP, you
immediately think of John.
He dominates the market.”
-Chambers & Partners, 2018
• SonyCorporationinaHighCourtappeal
againstarulingoftheAssistantRegistrar
thatallowedtheApplicant’smarkto
proceedforregistration.(Kenya)
• Tiffany&Company,apremiumluxuryjewellery
brand,incross-borderIPlitigation.(Tanzania)
• UBERB.V.inHighCourtCivilCase356of
2016KanuriLtdvUberB.V.Thiscaseseeks
toestablishcontractualrightsofparties
inaserviceagreementandtheabilityofa
partytochangetermsatitsowndiscretion
whereprovidedforbycontract.(Kenya)
• ViacomInternationalInc.inopposition
proceedingsagainstGlitzEntertainment
Ltdinatrademarkdisputeoverthe
markUNPLUGGED.(Tanzania)
Anti-counterfeit
• ADIDASGmbHinfilingacounterfeit
actionbeforetheKenyanAnti-Counterfeit
Agencyresultinginthesuccessfulraid,
seizureanddestructionofaconsignment
ofcounterfeitproductsatthePortof
Mombasathatwereinfringingonthe
protectedtrademarkrightsofADIDAS.
• CaterpillarInc.inasuccessfulanti-counterfeit
enforcementcoveringMombasaandNairobi.
• DiageoBrandsB.V.andEastAfricaBreweries
LtdinacounterfeitcomplaintonJohnnie
WalkerBlackandRedLabelinRwanda
• GlaxoSmithKline(GSK)infilingacounterfeit
actionbeforetheKenyanAnti-Counterfeit
AgencyandtheCommissionerforCustoms
resultinginthesuccessfulraid,seizure
anddestructionofaconsignmentof
counterfeitproductsinfringingonthe
protectedtrademarkrightsofGSK.
• WahlClipperinacountrywide
counterfeitenforcementagainst
tradersdealingincounterfeitproducts
bearingtheWahltrademark
9
Intellectual Property
CONTENTS PAGE
Gaming, fintech and related transactions
• AirbnbPaymentsUKLtdontheviabilityof,and
regulatorylandscapeapplicableto,improved
functionalityontheirpaymentsplatform.
• BacardiandLewisSilkinLLPonthe
MARTINIonlinecompetitionand
thetermsandconditionsforthe
MARTINI150momentspromotion.
• AleadingbanklistedontheNairobiStock
Exchangeindevelopingnovele-commerce
agreementsaimedatincorporatingcomplex
technologysystemsintotheirdailybanking,
paymentandtransactionfunctions.
• Fish&RichardsonP.C.onbehalfof
theirclientIntelCorporationonbetting
andgaminglawsandregulation,data
protectionandprivacylawsinKenya.
• InventureMobileLtd(Tala)ontheviability
andregulatorylandscapeapplicableto
aconsumercreditproduct,including
draftingproducttermsandconditions.
• ReedSmithonbehalfoftheirclient
E-PrizeandIntelCorporationonbetting
andgaminglawsandregulation,data
protectionandprivacylawsinKenya.
• SegoviaTechnologyontheviabilityand
regulatorylandscapeapplicabletoan
advancedmoneyremittanceservice.
• SimpliceBileAnohonthesettingup
ofadigitalbettingcompany.
• Visaonbettingandgaminglaws
andregulation,dataprotection
andprivacylawsinKenya.
10
BOWMANS
CONTENTS PAGE11
Intellectual Property
CONTENTS PAGE
OurIPPracticehasbeenrecognisedbyinternationaldirectories
andhasreceivedvariousawardsinthefollowingcategories:
AFRICAN LEGAL AWARDS
WonIPTeamoftheYearin2015andTMTTeamoftheYearin2017
CHAMBERS & PARTNERS
PartnerJohnSyekeiisrankedBand1intheIntellectualProperty
Categoryin2017and2018.
MANAGING IP
NamedAfricaFirmtoWatchin2018.
RankedTier1intheTrademark/CopyrightCategory
in2016and2017.
RankedTier2inthePatentCategoryin2016and2017.
WORLD TRADEMARK REVIEW 1000
RankedintheGoldBandinTrademarksin2016,2017and2018..
Intellectual Property Accolades
12
BOWMANS
CONTENTS PAGE13
Intellectual Property
CONTENTS PAGE
Key Contacts
AUDAX KAMEJA
Partner
DaresSalaam,Tanzania
T:+255768988643
ANTHONY NJOGU
Partner
Nairobi,Kenya
T: +254202899000
JOHN SYEKEI
Partner,HeadofIntellectualProperty
Nairobi,Kenya
T:+254202899000
14
BOWMANS
CONTENTS PAGE
TERRY MWANGO
Partner
Nairobi,Kenya
T:+254202899000
To view profiles of our lawyers,
please visit www.bowmanslaw.com
FREDERICK MPANGA Partner
Kampala,Uganda T:+256414254540
15
Intellectual Property
Cape Town
T: +27214807800
Dar es Salaam
T: +255768988640
Durban
T: +27312650651
Johannesburg
T: +27116699000
Kampala
T: +256414254540
Nairobi
T: +254202899000
Follow us on Twitter:
@Bowmans_Law
www.bowmanslaw.com