In the last couple of months, we have been looking into Intellectual Property Law or IPL and its many areas of legal practice. Trademarks, Patents and Copyrights are all a part of it and in essence, it is about protecting your property, both intellectual and creative. In this article, we look at what has become a much talked about aspect of IPL – the protection of personal information – or as we have come to know it POPI.
What is POPI?
Since late last year, we became acutely aware of the protection of personal information and the POPI act which in a nutshell, holds those in possession of other person’s personal information accountable to protect it and ensure it doesn’t get leaked into the public space without their permission. This aspect of IPL can be quite intricate so don’t hesitate to contact us for help and advice in case of any grey areas.
Don’t face unnecessary risk
Did you know that organisations can face penalties for not complying with the POPI act that includes fines of up to R10 million or 10 years in prison? Businesses are obligated by law now to protect their client’s information – and the scope of what is deemed to be important information is much broader than many realise. Don’t take the risk of not being in the know and in full compliance with the POPI Act – it’s simply not worth it.
What are your obligations?
As a business, what are your obligations under the POPI Act? Broadly speaking, you have to be able to explain exactly what information you are collecting and why – and name who is collecting it. You need to do this in a manner that can be easily understood by your customers or clients. You also have to make sure information is being safely stored and not shared with anyone. We can help you with this too – so just talk to us.
What are your rights?
If you have any complaints about how your personal information has been used, you can talk to the Information Regulator which falls under the government’s justice department. For a serious complaint and to get more immediate action, however, rather talk to Glenn Rooseboom Inc. We are well versed in Intellectual Property law and the parameters of POPI.
The protection of your legacy is important too!
Every bit as important as protecting your personal information and Intellectual Property is the protection of the legacy that you will leave your children. The celebration of both Fathers and the youth this month reminds us that we as parents need to take the time to protect and maximise what we will leave behind!
Our Notary services can ensure that you have a well-planned estate, professionally administered by experts, to ensure that your family’s grief will not be exacerbated by the huge headaches of an unplanned estate – Contact – Glenn Rooseboom Inc – Attorneys | Notaries | Conveyancers (grinc.co.za) – and remember true peace of mind is always attained through solid legal protection!
