Specialist intellectual property (IP) law firm Spoor & Fisher, in collaboration with the Anton Mostert Chair of IP at Stellenbosch University, in Cape Town, launched its new IP textbook, titled Dean & Dyer: Introduction to Intellectual Property Law, in Pretoria last month
.The book gives a comprehensive introduction to the large scale of IP law in South Africa, including IP in the digital environment.
Spoor & Fisher states that the textbook is the first of its kind on IP and adds that it serves as an important reference for students studying IP law as a module of their LLB degree or at postgraduate level, as the text combines practical expertise with an analytical and critical approach.
“The new text presents a substantial and applied entry-level treatise in IP law and provides an essential grounding in the legislation and its fundamental principles. It is also a useful resource for legal practitioners and others encountering the practical application of IP, who might want to engage with the foundational and current principles of the field,” said Spoor & Fisher partner Lodewyk Cilliers.
The book presents a clear overview on copyright, trademarks, unlawful competition, counterfeit goods, cultural expressions and folklore, IP rights and the constitution, as well as commercial considerations for transactions involving IP.
It aims to offer a structure to support learning and to develop independent, critical and reflective engagement with the subject matter.
Cilliers notes that additional academic resources, such as PowerPoint slides and a question-and-answer bank, are also included to assist in teaching and encourage learning.
He adds that the textbook will also benefit those who require a thorough understanding of existing legislation, as opposed to only memorising it.