Spoor & Fisher, a specialist, full-service international IP law firm has launched an “IP App” to provide clients and users with helpful resources and tools. The app is available for free download from the iTunes store. An Android version will become available in the near future.

The easy-to-use App provides information in a polished and professional manner. Through the App, users will have all the Intellectual Property (IP) information on Africa they might need at their fingertips. The app features the different Patent, Trade mark and Design filing requirements for all African countries through an interactive map of the continent. The App can perform a South African patent search by linking to the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission’s (CIPC) website.

Key features of the App include

• General information about Intellectual Property in South Africa, including FAQs about the various types of IP;
• Country-specific information at your fingertips, including IP registration requirements for each country on the African continent, using an interactive map of Africa;
• A handy deadline calculator for calculating the filing deadlines at various stages of the patent prosecution process;
• A search function for conducting searches through the patent records of the South African Patent Office.

The App also allows a user to send a contact request directly to Spoor & Fisher.

Currently, the Spoor & Fisher IP App is available as an iPhone application for the iPhone 4, 4S and 5 running iOS 5 and higher and as an iPad application for the iPad 2, 3, 4 and iPad mini running iOS 5 and higher.