Sun International – South African trademarks
Updated 8 November 2026
Sun International is a JSE-listed South African hospitality and gaming group. It operates casinos, hotels and resorts, including Sun City, and online betting.
How Sun International has built and protected its brands in South Africa – its trademark portfolio, where it expanded, how quickly its marks are registered, and who it competes with.
Download report (PDF)Sun International trademarks in 45 seconds
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-international-south-african-trademarks/overview-video.html
A portfolio built over time
Sun International filed its first South African trademark in 1978 and has filed 842 since; its busiest year was 2003, with 44 new filings. The chart shows its filings per year from 1970.
Trademarks by filing year, up to 2024; applications still pending are not included.
The names behind the portfolio
Over the years the group has filed under several names – earlier company names, holding companies and subsidiaries. We count them together.
| Name | Marks | Filing years |
|---|---|---|
| Sun International | 863 | 1978–2024 |
Where Sun International expanded its business
Trademark classes show what a business sells. Sun International's portfolio is concentrated in education & entertainment (class 41), tech & it services (class 42), restaurants & hotels (class 43). Its most recent moves were into medical & beauty care (2016), furniture (1980), medical devices (1980).
Sun International trademarks: expansion into trademark classes, 1970–2024
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-international-south-african-trademarks/class-expansion-video.html
Each tile is a class; it lights up when the group first files in it and darkens with more filings; the dots show how many of its closest rivals also file in that class. The chart compares the number of classes used with its rivals. The video runs from 1970; classes entered earlier are lit from the start.
| Class | Marks | Share | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 41 Education & entertainment | 315 | 37.4% | 1978 |
| 42 Tech & IT services | 97 | 11.5% | 1978 |
| 43 Restaurants & hotels | 90 | 10.7% | 1979 |
| 9 Electronics & software | 68 | 8.1% | 1980 |
| 28 Toys & sports goods | 62 | 7.4% | 1980 |
| 25 Clothing | 26 | 3.1% | 1980 |
| 16 Paper & print | 26 | 3.1% | 1978 |
| 36 Finance & insurance | 24 | 2.9% | 1978 |
The brands Sun International protects most
The word marks and logo names Sun International has filed most often – the same brand filed in more classes, in more versions or again over the years.
| # | Brand | Trademarks | Classes | Filed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SUN CITY | 63 | 43 | 1978–2007 |
| 2 | SUN INTERNATIONAL | 16 | 14 | 1984–2014 |
| 3 | MORULA SUN | 12 | 12 | 1987–1987 |
| 4 | CABANAS SUN CITY | 10 | 10 | 1980–1980 |
| 5 | CASCADES (THE) | 10 | 10 | 1985–1985 |
| 6 | SUN CITY GOLF CHALLENGE | 10 | 10 | 2000–2001 |
| 7 | SUN | 10 | 7 | 2014–2019 |
| 8 | KAMP KWENA | 8 | 7 | 1996–1996 |
| 9 | MVG | 7 | 4 | 1994–1999 |
| 10 | CAROUSEL (THE) | 6 | 6 | 1991–2001 |
| 11 | E-SUN | 6 | 3 | 2000–2000 |
| 12 | ONE DESTINATION | 6 | 3 | 2006–2006 |
| 13 | SUN INTERNATIONAL DREAMS | 6 | 3 | 2002–2003 |
| 14 | SUN TIME SQUARE | 6 | 2 | 2016–2016 |
| 15 | SUN VACATION CLUB | 5 | 5 | 2018–2018 |
Logos filed most often (since 2020)
Sun International's logos
The 9 different logos Sun International has had published since 2020 – each logo shown once, however many classes or versions it was filed in. Logos protected in more classes come first.
How quickly its trademarks are registered
Over the last five years, Sun International's marks took a median of 5.1 years from filing to registration, slower than the market's 2.7 years. Most of that time is examination: 3.5 years from filing to acceptance (market: 1.9). Registration itself follows about half a year after acceptance.
Median years from filing to registration per registration year, split into examination (filing → acceptance) and acceptance → registration; the dashed line is the market median. A high recent value means older applications came through that year.
Who files the most in Sun International's classes
Ranked by number of trademarks filed in Sun International's main classes – any company that files there, whatever else it does (including retailers' own brands). This shows Sun International's market position, not who is most like it.
In the last five years, Sun International was #57 of 3,121 filers in class 41 (education & entertainment), with 9 of 6,243 trademarks; #1810 of 3,000 filers in class 42 (tech & IT services), with 1 of 5,783 trademarks; #69 of 1,259 filers in class 43 (restaurants & hotels), with 4 of 2,216 trademarks.
Sun International's share of all trademarks filed in each of its main classes, per filing year.
Top trademark filers in class 41 (education & entertainment), South Africa 1975–2024: Sun International
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-international-south-african-trademarks/class-41-race-video.html
Main competitors – the companies most like Sun International
Ranked by how similar their whole trademark portfolio is to Sun International's – the same mix of classes and the same words in their marks – not by size. Large filers in its classes that do something different rank lower here.
Sun International's closest competitors in South Africa are Marriott Worldwide, Peermont, Caesars License and Hollywoodbets Brand.
Sun International trademarks vs competitors: filings per year, 2010–2024
Watch the video on its own page, with transcript – https://snz.co.za/trademark-country-selection-direct/sun-international-south-african-trademarks/competitors-video.html
Trademark filings per year: Sun International (orange) and its five closest competitors.
| # | Company | Relationship | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marriott Worldwide | Direct competitor | 80% |
| 2 | Peermont | Direct competitor | 76% |
| 3 | Caesars License | Direct competitor | 73% |
| 4 | Hollywoodbets Brand | Direct competitor | 70% |
| 5 | Takealot Online | Retailer's own brands | 71% |
| 6 | AB InBev | Other field | 74% |
| 7 | Life and Brand Portfolio | Other field | 73% |
| 8 | Wimpy (Pleasure Foods) | Other field | 71% |
| 9 | Tourvest | Other field | 71% |
| 10 | Bidfood | Other field | 71% |
Similarity of trademark activity since 2015 (classes and words used in marks). Retailers appear where their own brands compete on the shelf.
Sun International – relevant export countries
Adjust the weightings
These weightings decide how the countries below are ranked. Change any value and the others adjust to keep the total at 100%.
Worldwide
| # | Market | Score | SA exports | Import growth / yr | Route | Cost, 4 classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | European Union | 73 | US$57 m | -1% | National | US$2,123 |
| 2 | United States of America | 72 | US$46 m | -3% | National | US$2,750 |
| 3 | United Kingdom | 68 | US$19 m | -5% | National | US$1,192 |
| 4 | Namibia | 64 | US$226 m | +8% | ARIPO | US$397 |
| 5 | Japan | 62 | US$795 k | -2% | National | US$1,481 |
| 6 | Canada | 60 | US$4.1 m | -6% | National | US$1,907 |
| 7 | Hong Kong SAR | 60 | US$3.5 m | +8% | National | US$1,412 |
| 8 | Switzerland | 60 | US$2.2 m | -2% | National | US$1,390 |
| 9 | Australia | 59 | US$12 m | -4% | National | US$2,020 |
| 10 | Botswana | 59 | US$209 m | -7% | ARIPO | US$397 |
Africa
| # | Market | Score | SA exports | Import growth / yr | Route | Cost, 4 classes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Namibia | 64 | US$226 m | +8% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 2 | Botswana | 59 | US$209 m | -7% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 3 | Nigeria | 54 | US$11 m | -16% | National | US$812 S&Z |
| 4 | Zimbabwe | 53 | US$54 m | +1% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 5 | Malawi | 53 | US$16 m | +30% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 6 | Tanzania | 52 | US$15 m | -3% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 7 | OAPI (17 states) | 52 | US$17 m | +5% | National | US$1,378 S&Z |
| 8 | Mozambique | 51 | US$69 m | -19% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 9 | Uganda | 50 | US$6.6 m | +11% | ARIPO | US$397 S&Z |
| 10 | Dem. Rep. of the Congo | 46 | US$34 m | -9% | National | US$1,650 |
SA exports = South Africa's exports of these goods to the market in the last year. Ranked with the default weightings. Score 0–100 from South Africa's exports of the goods to the market, net imports, import growth, foreign trademark filings, where the goods are made, market size and the cost of protection. Costs are total fees (official and professional) to file in 4 classes; ARIPO costs are per country, plus US$290 once per ARIPO application; S&Z = S&Z's own all-in price. Goods are taken from the classes and specifications, so the ranking is indicative.
Trade data: CEPII BACI (version 202601, trade flows 2022–2024), Licence Etalab 2.0; aggregated and combined with other data by S&Z.
Protecting its top brands in Nigeria and OAPI with S&Z
| Brand | Classes | Nigeria | OAPI (17 states) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUN CITY | 43 | US$8,729 | US$8,581 |
| SUN INTERNATIONAL | 14 | US$2,842 | US$3,225 |
| MORULA SUN | 12 | US$2,436 | US$2,856 |
| CABANAS SUN CITY | 10 | US$2,030 | US$2,487 |
| CASCADES (THE) | 10 | US$2,030 | US$2,487 |
S&Z all-in prices per brand in its number of classes, filing to registration.
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Word marks you may have considered opposing
For Sun International's five most-filed brands: word marks of other companies (not Sun International's own group) that our similar word mark search, SimTM, found in the brand's own classes, and that we consider confusingly similar – from the earliest match found to today.
Similar to SUN CITY (classes 9, 28, 41, 42, 43; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-07)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to SUN INTERNATIONAL (classes 9, 28, 41, 42, 43; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-07)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to MORULA SUN (classes 41, 42; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-07)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to CABANAS SUN CITY (classes 41, 42; searched 2018-01-31 to 2026-11-07)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similar to CASCADES (THE) (classes 41, 42; searched 2018-08-29 to 2026-11-07)
No confusingly similar marks of other companies found in this period.
Similarity of the words only. Whether a mark could have been opposed depends on the goods and services, the reputation of the brand and the facts – S&Z can advise. New marks like these are what SimTM watch reports as they are published.
How S&Z can help you
S&Z does not just file trademarks. We are a technology-first firm that manages trademarks – analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected.
We manage your trademarks – not just file them
Analysing your data, monitoring competitors and making sure your trademark assets remain protected:
Filing and renewal at fixed, all-inclusive prices
S&Z prices – South African trademarks
| Filing, first class – incl. official fee, examination report, routine office action, acceptance, publication, registration and e-certificate | US$240 |
| Each additional class of the same mark, filed at the same time | US$225 |
| Renewal online, per class (every 10 years from filing) | R1,027 ≈ US$62.29 |
Renewal in rand; US$ at R16.49 per US$.
Sun International's next five years of renewals
147 of Sun International's registered marks reach their ten-year renewal date in 2027–2031. Renewed online with S&Z, that costs about US$9,157 over the five years.
Sun International: frequently asked questions
What should Sun International consider for its trademarks?
- Fewer new brands: new brand names fell from 5.6 to 1.8 a year – worth reviewing whether planned launches are being protected early enough.
- Renewals and use: keep track of the ten-year renewal dates and of marks that are no longer used – unused marks can be challenged after five years, and some may no longer be worth renewing.