Copyright
New Proposed Amendments to Copyright Amendment Bill – Constitutionality in Question
In mid-2015 a draft Copyright Amendment Bill was published by the Department of Trade and Industry for public comment. It underwent several changes in the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry because of public submissions, public hearings, and inputs from two small legal working groups appointed by the Committee. Four years later, the 2017 version […]
COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL – THE SAGA CONTINUES
May 2021 Copyright Webinar An excellent webinar was organised by the Mandela Institute at Wits University on 20 May 2021, with the following speakers: Mr Duma Nkosi (Chairperson: Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry), Prof. Malebakeng Forere (Wits), Prof. Sean Flynn (American University), Prof. Owen Dean (Stellenbosch University), Dr. Joel Baloyi (Unisa), Mr. Lazarus Serobe […]
Libraries and Archives and our Documentary Heritage – Why Copyright Amendment Bill is so crucial
The crucial role of libraries and archives, more so than ever before, is recognised at an international level, including the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). International IP agreements such as the Berne Convention and the TRIPS Agreement, provide for limitations and exceptions to the exclusive rights of authors, to ensure balance in copyright laws, for […]
South African Government Perpetuates the “Book Famine”
Since 1998, the library and higher education sectors in South Africa have been calling for a more balanced and updated copyright law. In 1998 and 2000, the South African University Vice-Chancellors’ Association (SAUVCA) and the Committee of Technikons (CTP), the then representative bodies of all the public-funded universities and technikons, mandated two copyright task teams […]
South African Copyright Amendment Bill – Still No Progress!
The Copyright Amendment Bill was first published for public comment in July 2015. It went through a long and drawn-out process in the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry and the National Council of Provinces. There were public workshops, a multi-stakeholder conference and many calls for submissions from stakeholders. Public hearings were also held in Parliament in August 2017, to […]
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