When it comes to the list of ingredients you find on some products, it's as well to double-check some of the claims that the manufacturer makes and also understand exactly what the terms really mean. 17 Sep 2008
Retail giant Woolworths might have stepped on a few toes by selling slippers featuring a famed 1960s design — to which it might not have bought the rights. 16 Sep 2008
Two years of negotiations have resulted in the adoption of new international guidelines to limit the impact of fishing on fragile deep sea fish species and habitats. 4 Sep 2008
The franchising industry would be thrown into disarray by the Consumer Protection Bill that would make franchisors liable for the products and services supplied by franchisees, Parliament's trade and industry committee heard this week. 4 Sep 2008
The downturn in economic conditions is forcing numerous businesses to close, claiming insolvency. However, there are various implications to the Insolvency Act of which owners trying to sell their businesses are unaware, including the fact that failure to adhere to section clauses may render the sale invalid. Simphiwe Maphumulo of the law firm Garlicke & Bousfield Inc explains. 3 Sep 2008
USA: New Payment Card Industry (PCI) regulations are just around the corner, and retailers dealing with credit cards will need to tighten up their standards in order to comply. For instance, your firewall performance will be reviewed more often, and you'll have to use anti-virus protection even on non-Windows platforms. Also, if you're still using WEP encryption, better get ready to chuck that and move to something better ASAP. 3 Sep 2008
The Procter & Gamble Co. (P&G) tells private label manufacturer RNA Corp. to keep its distance from Clairol Herbal Essences shampoo's intellectual property. 25 Aug 2008
China has apparently blocked access to Apple iTunes, perhaps in response to the publicity surrounding a pro-Tibet album that was released about a month ago and just recently made its way onto the much-trafficked website. 25 Aug 2008
Japanese video game giant Nintendo has been hit with a lawsuit alleging patent infringement. 22 Aug 2008
The US federal courts have embraced various interpretations of patent law as it applies to business methods over the years. With In re Bilski, heard 8 May, the court again took up the issue, and its ruling will have a major impact on patent law, writes Greg Reilly of Morrison & Foerster. 21 Aug 2008
Just because open-source software is free, doesn't mean that you can change it. 15 Aug 2008
If the video game watchdog group What They Play has it right, parents are more worried about their kids being exposed to adult-themed video games than they are about kids drinking alcohol or viewing pornography. Some have questioned the study's use of "Grand Theft Auto IV" as an example; the researchers say they had to pick a specific, known game in order to avoid misleading survey takers. 14 Aug 2008
Hard-pressed consumers will no longer have to carry any costs of payment distribution following an agreement between the National Credit Regulator (NCR) and credit providers regarding the cost of distribution of payments to credit providers. 12 Aug 2008
An "action plan" is to be launched to assist South Africa's beleaguered clothing and textile sector in November - one month before the quotas on Chinese imports are meant to end - it was reported1 yesterday, 11 August 2008. 12 Aug 2008
NEWSWATCH: Pepsi Cola is looking to cut down the size of its canned drinks in China from 355ml to 330ml to combat the inflationary pressures of rising aluminium costs - Packaging Digest reports. Meanwhile, Madonna and Guy Ritchie could be in trouble after reports have surfaced of alleged price fixing at their pub in London - Tonight. 11 Aug 2008
A new agency with the powers to regulate all medicines and health products in South Africa, including health foods and cosmetics with medicinal claims, has been proposed by the Department of Health. 30 Jul 2008
Apple may be making a lot of noise lately with its new iPhone 3G, but when it comes to fighting software pirates, Steve Jobs' company prefers to speak softly and carry a big stick - the stick, of course, being legal action like its recent lawsuit against computer maker Psystar for producing machines that can run Apple software. 29 Jul 2008
Chinese textile company Tai Yuen is to ask the Labour Court to review a R17,5m award made against it by the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). 28 Jul 2008
Earlier this week, the US Food and Drug Administration ordered the makers of certain antibiotics to add a 'black box' label warning - the FDA's strongest - to alert patients of possible tendon ruptures and tendonitis. 10 Jul 2008
NEWSWATCH: The Competition Commission's recent investigations into the complaints of Elite Breeding Farms and Astral Operations anti-competitive behaviour have been referred to the Competition Tribunal, IOL reports. 6 Jul 2008
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