Day June 24, 2019

Copyright, and Photographs or Videos of Public Art, in South Africa: An Imperfect Picture

[Bram Van Wiele] Abstract: The rise of digital photography and videography has made the creation, sharing and commercialisation of high-quality photographs and videos more accessible, in terms of both cost and skills required. This thematic report examines the impact on copyright infringement of the increase in photographs and videos containing public art. It then analyses the applicability, for such photographs and videos, of the general exceptions for protection of artistic works in South Africa’s Copyright Act 98 of 1978.

The New Copyright Directive: A tour d’horizon – Part II (of press publishers, upload filters and the real value gap)

Part I of this post discussed the legislative process and Titles I through III of the CDSM Directive. This Part II will tackle the remainder of the Directive, namely its measures to achieve a well-functioning marketplace for copyright (Title IV) and final provisions (Title V)... e IV contains the most controversial provisions of the Directive, namely the new right for press publishers and the new liability regime for user-upload platforms.

Statement of the South African Youth Council on the Copyright Amendment Bill

[South African Youth Council] ... It is time we protect our future by ensuring that where educational literature and or material is concerned no archaic pieces of legislation should be an impediment for the acquisition of knowledge. In the same breath we must ensure that our heritage, the works of our forebears, are given the necessary stature and protection. This can only happen if President Cyril Ramaphosa assents to the Copy Rights Amendment Bill.