Judge Louis Harms, Judge in the Supreme Court of Appeal and expert in the field of intellectual property law, delivered his inaugural lecture as Professor Extraordinary in the Department of Mercantile Law in the Faculty of Law this week at the University of the Free State (UFS).

With the topic “Whereunto Gehazi? A few trends in the field of intellectual property (IP) law” he focused on among others the fact that the concept IP has lost its theoretical basis and meaning, tendencies in the developed world, the counter reaction in the developing countries as well as the South African tendencies. According to Judge Harms, IP law is in a crisis. “In both the developed and the developing world it is fast losing its focus because it has become everything for everyone. South Africa is adding to the crisis. To provide for material benefits for our country and to protect its heritage is laudable. It is all too often about nice sounding but empty rights,” he said.
Photo: Stephen Collett