Global authors take aim at controversial copyright Bill
A global network of authors' societies is asking the National Assembly not to adopt the Copyright Amendment Bill. The Bill, which was initially turned down by the President nearly four years ago, is up for reconsideration by the National Assembly this week.
News24 reports that the network of more than 5m creators has implored lawmakers not to adopt the controversial Bill.
Gadi Oron, DG of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors & Composers (CISAC) warned that it would harm SA's creative community.
The Bill and a report on it compiled by the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry & Competition is scheduled to be considered by the National Assembly on Thursday.
The National Council of Provinces adopted the Bill in September 2023. CISAC is the world's leading network of authors' societies with more than 225 member societies in 116 countries.
The Bill has also been opposed by local artist associations, including those belonging to the Copyright Coalition SA which has campaigned for the redrafting of the Bill which had been initially introduced in 2017.
Some of the key amendments of the Bill include providing people with disabilities access to copyrighted works – for example converting a book into a format such as braille which would be accessible to a person who is blind.
The Bill also relies on the ‘fair-use principle’ to allow for the free use of copyrighted works in certain circumstances, such as research or teaching.
News24 previously reported that companies like Google support the fair use principle.
The Bill introduces the protection of digital rights and also provides for ‘equitable remuneration’ or the sharing of royalties in copyright works – such as literary, musical, artistic and audiovisual, and also allows for the resale of royalty rights.
It also speaks to limitations and exceptions when it comes to reproducing copyrighted works.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, in June 2020, sent back both the Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers' Protection Amendment Bill for the National Assembly to reconsider – having been concerned about their constitutionality.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
