The (trade) dress code: protection and stopping imitation

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

The (trade) dress code: protection and stopping imitation

Sponsored by

Adams & Adams logo.jpg
The (trade) dress code protection and stopping imitation (1).png

Mandy Swanepoel and Lisa van Zuydam of Adams & Adams offer practical insights on protecting trade dress in South Africa and beyond, using both trademark and non-trademark tools

In the first episode of a two-part podcast series, Adams & Adams partner Mandy Swanepoel and senior associate Lisa van Zuydam discuss the complex topic of trade dress and its unique application in the African continent.

Talking to Managing IP's Tom Baker, Mandy and Lisa provide practical examples of distinctive uses of trade dress to protect a product's brand, and consider both the trademark and non-trademark tools used to prevent infringement and imitation.

About Adams & Adams

Adams & Adams is an internationally recognised and leading African law firm that specialises in providing intellectual property, corporate and commercial services.

The firm is firmly rooted in Africa – with a tenacious belief in the economic growth potential and spirit of the continent. The head office in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, provides the perfect gateway through which its partners, supported by some 700 professionals and staff, render a broad range of legal services to clients in Africa and the rest of the world.

Through its associate offices and long-established networks, the firm serves a global client base throughout the African continent in matters of intellectual property, commercial law, property and litigation.

In 2021, experts from Adams & Adams co-produced a popular three-part podcast series on the IP enforcement of pharma in Africa.

You can find all the Managing IP podcasts here.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Mathew Lucas has joined Pearce IP after spending more than 25 years at IPH-owned firm Davies Collison Cave
Exclusive survey data reveals a generally lax in-house attitude towards DEI, but pitches have been known to turn on a final diversity question
Managing IP will host a ceremony in London on May 1 to reveal the winners
Abigail Wise shares her unusual pathway into the profession, from failing A-levels to becoming Lewis Silkin’s first female IP partner
There are some impressive AI tools available for trademark lawyers, but law firm leaders say humans can still outthink the bots
Lawyers at Simmons & Simmons look ahead to a UK Supreme Court hearing in which the court will consider whether English courts can determine FRAND terms when the licence is offered by an intermediary rather than an SEP owner
Firm says appointment of Jeremy Drew from RPC will help create ‘unrivalled IP powerhouse’, as it looks to shore up IP offering ahead of merger
Law firms are expanding their ITC practices to account for the venue’s growing popularity, and some are seeing an opportunity to collaborate with M&A teams
Erise IP has added a seven-practitioner trademark team from Hovey Williams, signalling its intention to help clients at all stages of development
News of prison sentences for ex-Samsung executives for trade secrets violation and an opposition filed by Taylor Swift were also among the top talking points
Gift this article