STEYN IP

18/06/2026

In November this year, NASA’s Voyager 1 will reach an extraordinary milestone. A radio signal travelling at the speed of light will take a full 24 hours to reach the spacecraft. A message sent today will only be heard tomorrow.

Launched in 1977, Voyager 1 was designed for a mission measured in years, not decades. Yet nearly half a century later, it continues to operate in the darkness between the stars, making it one of the most successful engineering projects humanity has ever produced.

From an intellectual property perspective, Voyager 1 is also a reminder of how the IP system is intended to work. The patents that protected many of the technologies used in Voyager 1 have long since expired. Most patent rights last only a limited period, typically 20 years from filing. The inventions that once represented cutting-edge technology are now part of the public domain, available for anyone to study, learn from and build upon.

Patents do not exist to lock knowledge away forever. They create a temporary incentive for innovation, after which society benefits from the disclosure of the invention. The reward for the inventor is exclusivity for a specific time. The reward for humanity is permanent access to knowledge.

Voyager 1 is proof that the true value of innovation is not always found in the legal rights themselves, but in the human creativity, problem-solving and ambition that produced them. The patents may expire and the technology may eventually become obsolete, but the achievement endures.

Nearly 50 years after launch, Voyager 1 is still travelling further than anything humanity has ever built. And although IP is extremely important, sometimes the greatest legacy of innovation is not the IP that protects it, but the inspiration it leaves behind.

🚀 BTW, did you know STEYN IP also offers space law as one of our specialist services? Not only because it is fascinating and rapidly expanding, but because the exploration of space has always been filled with innovation and IP.

16/06/2026

Today, South Africa commemorates Youth Day, remembering the courage of the young people who stood up on 16 June 1976 and helped shape the future of our country.

While Youth Day is rooted in a struggle for education, dignity and opportunity, it also serves as a reminder of the power of ideas. Every innovation, business, artwork, invention, brand and creative work begins with someone willing to think differently and challenge the status quo.

Intellectual property is, in many ways, the legal protection of that spirit. It exists to ensure that creators, inventors and entrepreneurs can benefit from their ideas, build sustainable businesses, and contribute to economic growth.

South Africa’s future will not only be written by those who inherit opportunities, but by those who create them. The innovators, artists, engineers, developers, designers and entrepreneurs of today’s youth have the potential to shape industries that do not yet exist.

As we reflect on the sacrifices of the youth of 1976, we are reminded that progress often starts with a single idea and the courage to pursue it.

At STEYN IP®, we celebrate the young dreamers, creators and innovators who continue to build South Africa’s future.

Happy Youth Day, South Africa.

15/06/2026

The South African art community has lost one of its most recognisable voices.

Portchie’s work was instantly identifiable. Bold colours, whimsical scenes, joyful everyday moments and, of course, those unmistakable blue trees created a style that needed no signature. You could walk into a room, catch a glimpse of a canvas, and know exactly whose imagination you were looking at. That is perhaps the highest compliment any artist can receive.

At STEYN IP, we often speak about intellectual property as a business asset. But moments like these remind us that IP is also about legacy. Behind every copyright, trade mark or design is a person who invested years of creativity, courage and hard work into building something uniquely their own.

South African copyright law recognises that legacy. In the case of artistic works, copyright generally endures for the lifetime of the author and for 50 years after the end of the year in which the author passes away. During that period, the rights form part of the artist’s estate and continue to protect the work for the benefit of those entrusted with preserving it.

The artist may be gone, but the law recognises that the value of great art should not disappear with them.

We extend our sincere condolences to Portchie’s family, friends, colleagues and the many collectors and admirers whose lives were touched by his work. Some artists paint pictures. Others leave behind a piece of South Africa’s cultural identity.

13/06/2026

We are honoured to welcome Danelle Gintner to the STEYN IP team.

Danelle joins the firm as an IP & Litigation Attorney, focusing on intellectual property litigation, civil litigation, and customs and excise matters.

Before rejoining the attorneys’ profession, Danelle spent 10 years at the Bar as an Advocate. During that time, she appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, High Court, and Supreme Court of Appeal, working on a wide range of matters, including complex disputes that contributed to both reported and unreported judgments.

Prior to her time at the Bar, Danelle gained valuable experience at an intellectual property law firm, building a strong foundation in IP practice and enforcement.

Danelle’s combination of advocacy experience, litigation expertise, and understanding of intellectual property law further strengthens STEYN IP’s ability to protect our clients’ innovations, brands, and commercial interests.

We are proud to welcome Danelle to the team and look forward to the knowledge, experience, and strategic insight she brings to the firm.

Welcome to STEYN IP, Danelle.

12/06/2026

AI is creating a new kind of intellectual property race: attribution.

Warner Music Group’s acquisition of Sureel AI, a company focused on tracing how AI models use creative works, is another sign that the industry is moving beyond the simple question of “Was our content used?” to the far more difficult question of “Can we prove it?”

One of the biggest challenges in AI copyright disputes is evidence. Once a model has been trained on vast datasets, identifying whether and how a particular song, recording or creative work contributed to the output becomes incredibly complex. Technology that can attribute or trace the use of protected works could fundamentally change the landscape. It may assist with licensing negotiations, royalty allocation, copyright enforcement, AI transparency obligations, and reducing litigation uncertainty.

This is somewhat reminiscent of the evolution of digital fingerprinting and content identification systems that transformed online copyright enforcement. It also raises an interesting point for businesses developing AI systems, as protecting your own IP is only one side of the equation. Demonstrating that you have respected the IP rights of others may become just as valuable.

At STEYN IP®, we often say that intellectual property is not just about obtaining rights. It is about creating systems that make those rights commercially enforceable. In the age of AI, attribution may become one of the most valuable forms of IP infrastructure.

11/06/2026

What’s in a kit… 🇿🇦⚽

As we gear up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff this evening, it is worth remembering how much intellectual property sits behind the football hype. Supporter shirts line the store aisles, and tournament promotions seem to be everywhere.

What fans see as a simple jersey is, in reality, the product of decades of brand building and legal protection.

A soccer kit (or football kit for our non-South African friends) is a remarkable collection of intellectual property rights. The national badge may be protected as a trade mark or heraldic symbol. The manufacturers’ and sponsors’ logos and brands are protected trade marks. The shirt design itself may enjoy design protection, while certain colour combinations can, in the right circumstances, also function as trade marks. Sponsors rely on carefully negotiated commercial rights, while player names and numbers often form part of licensing and merchandising programmes.

Strong IP is one of the reasons global sport has become a multi-billion dollar industry. It protects investment, rewards creativity and helps ensure that teams, sponsors and governing bodies can continue to grow the game.

From all of us at STEYN IP®, we would like to wish Bafana Bafana the very best for their match this evening, as well as for the tournament. May the soccer do the talking, and may South Africans once again have a reason to wear the green and gold with pride.

Good luck, Bafana. Make us proud. 🏆 ⚽️

11/06/2026

Please join us in welcoming Kayla Raats to the STEYN IP team.

As our new Administrative Assistant, Kayla supports our IP team and helps keep the day-to-day operations of the firm running smoothly. As one of the first people our clients and visitors will meet, she plays an important role in creating the professional and welcoming environment that we value so highly.

Kayla brings an organised approach, a keen eye for detail, and a genuine commitment to excellent service. We are pleased to have her as part of the team and look forward to the contribution she will make as STEYN IP continues to grow.

Welcome to the team, Kayla. We are excited to have you with us.

11/06/2026

Renew IP like you shop online… 🐼

Submitting IP renewals manually is so last season… Rather let IPanda file it while you sip your coffee like the IP boss you are. 🐼☕📄

With IPanda, managing your South African trade mark, patent and design renewals have never been easier. Our smart, automated platform takes care of your renewals with just one click.

No paperwork. No stress. Just reliable IP renewals, done the IPanda way. IPanda ensures 100% compliance, streamlined billing, and zero surprises.

✅ https://IPanda.africa - Available in South Africa: Trusted worldwide.

10/06/2026

Lawyers belong where business happens. That is the idea behind Lawyers in the (Club)house™.

This Friday, we once again step out of the boardroom and into a more relaxed space where entrepreneurs, creators, founders and business owners can ask the questions that keep them awake at night. No formal consultations. No intimidating legal jargon. Just practical conversations.

Join us, together with our friends from NLA Legal Inc and Suits & Sneakers, at the Tryst this Friday from 9:00 to 12:00, where we will be discussing everything a business needs to know about law… From contractual and commercial issues, to trade marks and brand protection, we’ve got you covered.

Whether you are negotiating your first agreement, building a new brand, or simply wondering if your business is properly protected, come and have a conversation.

Bring your questions (and a fellow business owner or entrepreneur)… We’ll bring the coffee and the lawyers.☕️

07/06/2026

In this season 2 finale of The Intellectually Correct Podcast, Christiaan sits down with Michael Buswell, better known as ‪That Cyber Safety Guy‬.

Michael is a South African cybersecurity educator, speaker and digital safety advocate who helps people understand the real risks of the online world without making it unnecessarily technical or intimidating.

In this episode, Christiaan and Michael explore cyber safety, digital awareness, online scams, social media risks, privacy, and why protecting yourself online has become essential for individuals, families, schools, creators and businesses, as well as how intellectual property is impacted thereby.

They also discuss how cyber safety is not only about technology, but about people, habits, awareness and the choices we make every day in a connected world.

Whether you are an entrepreneur, parent, creator, student, business owner or simply someone who spends time online, this episode offers practical insight into staying safer, smarter and more aware in the digital age.

Watch the full episode here > https://youtu.be/ocw80cmrKX0?si=QPzWWvSxYJHQoNbU 💻 🤖

In this season 2 finale of The Intellectually Correct Podcast, Chri...