Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The recent enactment of the Competition Act 89 of 1998, has resulted in a world of speculation and discussion. The reason seems to be that the previously 'protected' monopolies who were allowed to continue with business without fear of retribution, have now been stopped in their tracks with the new legislation. South African legal application and protection has been rather one sided in previous years with specific reference to the protection of minorities. This was exasperated by the political and economical situation in South Africa in the eighties. Sanctions led to consolidation of companies and industries, because companies were not allowed to take money of the country. This had a negative result on the competitive situation and the little guys had to survive on the dregs. The new Act is based on the American anti-trust legislation as well as the competition law of the European Union. It is therefore of utmost importance to take note of this international law with specific reference to the interpretation of the Competition Act due to the fact that the Act is so recent. The Competition Act expressly provides for the use of foreign law in the interpretation of the Act. This project is not a comparative study between current competition legislation available in the world. It purports to be a more user friendly guide to business people to make the Act more useful and understandable. The project focuses on some helpful hints to assist the reader with interpretation and application. The project gives a short description of the development of competition legislation in South Africa in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is a discussion on the main sections of the Act that deal with prohibited practices, dominant position, mergers and remedies and enforcement. A few examples are given of uncompetitive behaviour. Chapter 4 deals with the helpful hints and illustrates thresholds as determined in section 11, with the help of diagrams, it also lists a few helpful references of handy resources. The project ends off with a short conclusion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die onlangse inwerkingtreding van die Wet op Mededinging 89 van 1998, het 'n wêreld van spekulasie en bespreking ontketen. Die rede hiervoor is dat die voorheen "beskermde monopolieë" tot op hede kon voortgaan met besigheid sonder stoornis, hierdie stuk wetgewing het hulle egter nou tot halt geroep. Suid-Afrikaanse regswerking en -beskerming was in die vorige jare van regering effens eensydig met betrekking tot beskerming van minderhede. Die verskynsel is aangehelp deur die politieke en ekonomiese situasie waarin SA homself bevind het in die tagtigerjare. Sanksies het gely tot konsolidasie van maatskappye en industrieë, aangesien firmas nie geld uit die land mag geneem het nie. Die resultaat hiervan was monopolieë en konglomerate. Hierdie verskynsel het negatief ingewerk op kompeterende ekonomiese toestande, en die "kleiner outjies" moes die krummels van die tafel af eet. Die nuwe stuk wetgewing is gebasseer op die Amerikaanse "anti-trust" wetgewing sowel as die kompetisie wetgewing van die Europese Unie. Dit is noodsaaklik om kennis te neem van hierdie Internasionale wetgewing, veral in terme van die interprestasie van die Wet op Mededinging, siende dat ons eie wetgwing baie resent is. Die Wet maak ook daarvoor voorsiening dat Internasionale reg in ag geneem moet word vir interpretasie van enige van die artikels van die Wet. Hierdie werkstuk is nie 'n vergelykende studie tussen die bestaande wetgewing wat in die wêreld beskikbaar is nie, maar poog om 'n meer gebruikers vriendelike gids te wees vir veral besigheidsmense om die Wet makliker bruikbaar en verstaanbaar te maak. Die studie fokus daarop om 'n opsommende beskrywing te gee van die Wet sowel as die formulering van bepaalde hulpmiddels om die leser van hulp te wees met interpretasie en toepassing. Die werkstuk gee 'n kort beskrywing van die ontwikkeling van Kompetisie wetgewing in Suid-Afrika in Hoofstuk 2. Hoofstuk 3 is 'n bespreking van die hoof artikels van die Wet wat handelaar beperkende praktyke, dominansie, samesmeltings en oornames, remedies en afdwinging. Daar volg ook 'n bespreking van 'n paar tipiese voorbeelde van onkompeterende praktyke. Hoofstuk 4 handel oor hulpmiddels en illustreer by wyse van diagramme, die drempels vir vasstelling van welke firma onderhewig is aan artikel 11, sowel as 'n paar verwysings van handige bronne. Die werkstuk sluit af met 'n kort gevolgtrekking.

This study explores fair trade in the South African wine sector. It was motivated by different opinions with regard to fair trade products and the international trading system, as well as personal interest in how to improve the lives of the workers in the South, especially women. Although more fair trade would not improve the lives of all the poor people in countries in the South, it can be a beginning of ending this major problem as well as making the international trading system more equal. Although this study was limited by time and length, it gives the reader an insight in how production of fair trade wine in South Africa is different than other non-fair trade production. / Thesis (M.Dev.Studies)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.

This thesis investigates the role of prior use in common and statutory trade mark law. In the United States a pertinent requirement is priority of use. In the United Kingdom and South Africa, a reputation must be present. In the United Kingdom a plaintiff is required to have goodwill in the country, but in the United States and South Africa it is not required. The conception of a mark does not qualify for protection. It is not required that a business must have actually entered the market. In the United States the general approach is that a plaintiff will not receive protection in a remote area, but regard must be had to zones of natural expansion. British and South African law is the same, and protection may be obtained in areas where there is no trading. Where a dual reputation exists, neither party will be able to act against the other. The mere fact that the user of a mark was aware of the use thereof by another person, does not exclude protection. A trade mark application can be opposed on the basis of another application, combined with use of a mark, or on the ground of prior use. In some instances the fact that a mark has been filed will influence the burden of proof. In general, a registration can be expunged on the same grounds as would constitute grounds of opposition. The concurrent use of a mark can form the basis for the registration of a mark. In the United States, the use must have taken place prior to the filing date of the other party, but in the United Kingdom and South Africa, prior to the own filing date. In the latter two countries, knowledge of a mark is not necessarily exclusionary. Prior use is generally accepted as a defence to an infringement action. It is, however, noted that in various countries, it is only use prior to the relevant date that will be protected, and there is not necessarily a right to extend the scope of use concerned. / Mercantile Law / LL.D. (Mercantile Law)

Thesis (LLM)--University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis compares South African and German Competition Law. The focus is the control of mergers between newspaper enterprises. It has to be asked whether special rules should apply to transactions in this field, considering the importance of an unconcentrated, competitive press from an economic and political point of view. It will be shown that South African and German Competition Law are similar in many respects. Both legal systems follow a flexible, primarily economic approach to the consideration of proposed transactions, taking into account a plurality of factors to determine potential detrimental effects of mergers on competition. Moreover, pro-competitive gains and public interest issues are recognised under South African and German law. When it comes to the control of mergers between newspaper enterprises, though, the two legal systems diverge. Only under German Competition Law, are there specific provisions for press mergers. In view of a recently proposed amendment of the German Competition Law, the appropriate form of regulation that is likely to guarantee a free press, will be investigated. It will also be analysed, whether there is a specific need for press regulation in the South African context. Even though there are no special provisions under South African Competition Law, the South African Constitution leaves space for a broader understanding of the freedom of the press. Hence, it will be examined if the South African Constitution obliges the state to enact particular laws to protect press-plurality. Moreover, it will be analysed if the South African Competition Act should be interpreted in a manner that would promote plurality of the press. In the view of the eminent role of the press for a democratic society, it will be argued in this thesis, that there is a particular need for media regulation. Notably the significant levels of concentration in both German and South African press markets raise concerns as regards the protection of a free and pluralistic press. It will be shown that there are different foreign approaches to maintaining and promoting freedom of the press and it will be suggested that South Africa recognises a need for more press-specific regulation in the future. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling vergelyk Suid-Afrikaanse en Duitse mededingingsreg. Dit is gefokus op beheer oor persondernemings. Die vraag word gevra of spesiale reëls van toepassing behoort te wees op transaksies in hierdie sektor, indien die politieke en ekonomiese belang van 'n ongekonsentreerde en mededingende pers in ag geneem word. Dit word uitgewys dat Suid-Afrikaanse en Duitse mededingsreg in vele opsigte soortgelyk is, wat die regulering van samesmeltings betref. Beide regsstelsels volg 'n buigsame, hoofsaaklik ekonomiese benadering tot die oorweging van 'n transaksie. Beide neem 'n veelheid van faktore in ag om te bepaal of 'n transaksie moontlik negatiewe gevolge vir mededinging het. Verder word pro-mededingende en publieke belangsaspekte in beide die Suid- Afrikaanse en Duitse reg in ag geneem. In die geval van 'n samesmelting tussen koerantondernemings verskil die twee sisteme egter. Die Duitse reg het spesiale reëls vir samesmelting van sulke ondernemings. In die lig van wysigings wat onlangs aan die Duitse mededingsreg voorgestel is, word geskikte vlakke van regulering van die pers, wat nodig is om 'n vrye pers te waarborg, ondersoek. Aandag word geskenk aan die vraag of daar'n behoefte is aan regulering van die pers in die Suid-Afrikaanse omgewing. Alhoewel die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet nie spesiaal daarvoor voorsiening maak nie, laat die Grondwet plek vir 'n wyer begrip van persvryeid. Dus word vasgestelof daar 'n plig op die staat is om wetgewing in te voer wat die staat dwing om perspluralisme te beskerm. Verder, word bepaal of die Suid-Afrikaanse Mededingingswet op so 'n wyse interpreteer kan word dat dit perspluralisme sal bevorder. In die lig van die sentrale rol vir 'n vrye pers in 'n demokratiese samelewing, word geargumenteer dat, daar 'n spesiale behoefte aan reguleringvan die media is. Die hoë vlakke van konsentrasie in beide die Duitse en Suid- Afrikaanse persmarkte skep besorgheid oor die beskerming van 'n vrye en pluralistiese pers in hierdie lande. Dit word aangetoon dat daar verskillende benaderings tot die beskerming en bevordering van 'n vrye pers in ander lande is en daar word voorgestel dat Suid-Afrika 'n behoefte aan meer spesifieke reëls vir regulering van die pers erken.

This thesis investigates the role of prior use in common and statutory trade mark law. In the United States a pertinent requirement is priority of use. In the United Kingdom and South Africa, a reputation must be present. In the United Kingdom a plaintiff is required to have goodwill in the country, but in the United States and South Africa it is not required. The conception of a mark does not qualify for protection. It is not required that a business must have actually entered the market. In the United States the general approach is that a plaintiff will not receive protection in a remote area, but regard must be had to zones of natural expansion. British and South African law is the same, and protection may be obtained in areas where there is no trading. Where a dual reputation exists, neither party will be able to act against the other. The mere fact that the user of a mark was aware of the use thereof by another person, does not exclude protection. A trade mark application can be opposed on the basis of another application, combined with use of a mark, or on the ground of prior use. In some instances the fact that a mark has been filed will influence the burden of proof. In general, a registration can be expunged on the same grounds as would constitute grounds of opposition. The concurrent use of a mark can form the basis for the registration of a mark. In the United States, the use must have taken place prior to the filing date of the other party, but in the United Kingdom and South Africa, prior to the own filing date. In the latter two countries, knowledge of a mark is not necessarily exclusionary. Prior use is generally accepted as a defence to an infringement action. It is, however, noted that in various countries, it is only use prior to the relevant date that will be protected, and there is not necessarily a right to extend the scope of use concerned. / Mercantile Law / LL.D. (Mercantile Law)

In South Africa compliance with competition law has become a major concern for firms that achieve and maintain certain levels of success and growth in the market, as their actions are often a source of complaints and litigation by rivals and competition authorities. With substantial financial penalties often levied against them for a variety of conduct deemed to constitute an abuse of their market position, dominant firms must constantly be aware of the likely impact of their business strategies and actions on both rivals and consumers. What were once thought to be normal and economically sound business practices and decisions, such as cutting prices to attract customers, have now acquired new meanings, with devastating consequences for dominant firms. So, are dominant firms under attack from competition law? In this study I aim to determine this. I track the historical development of competition law in three jurisdictions: South Africa, America, and the EU, with the aim of identifying traces, if any, of hostility towards dominant firms in the origins of competition law. I further investigate whether the formulation and enforcement of certain aspects of existing abuse of dominance provisions manifest as hostility towards dominant firms. While acknowledging the important role that competition law enforcement plays in promoting competition and enhancing consumer welfare, I conclude that significant unjustified economic and legal prejudice is suffered by dominant firms as a result of the way in which certain abuse of dominance provisions have been formulated and applied. I also offer appropriate recommendations. / Mercantile Law / LL. D.