Copyright Reform in South Africa: Two Joint Academic Opinions on the Copyright Amendment Bill [B13B 2017]
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/1727-3781/2022/v25i0a13880Keywords:
Copyright Amendment Bill, constitutionality, President's referral back to Parliament, copyright reform, intellectual property and human rightsAbstract
South Africa is in the process of reforming its copyright law, attempting to update and align it with constitutional rights and existing and prospective international treaty obligations. With the adoption of the Copyright Amendment Bill [B13B-2017] by both Houses of Parliament in March 2019, the apartheid-era Copyright Act of 1978 had almost successfully been amended, when the President of the Republic withheld his assent to the Bill referring it back to Parliament citing reservations about its constitutionality. Following calls for public comment by the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry on the President's reservations, a coalition of copyright and constitutional law experts, convinced of the constitutionality of the Bill, submitted two legal opinions to the Committee. The two opinions presented in this contribution underline the importance of copyright reform, as envisaged in the Bill, to bringing South African copyright law into the digital age and realising several constitutional rights including the rights to education, cultural participation, language, freedom of expression, and access to knowledge of everyone, without discrimination.
Downloads
References
Bibliography
Literature
Dean OH Handbook of South African Copyright Law (Juta Cape Town 1987)
Gray E and Czerniewicz L "Access to Learning Resources in Post-Apartheid South Africa" in Karaganis J (ed) Shadow Libraries: Access to Knowledge in Global Higher Education (MIT Press Cambridge MA 2018) 107-157
Helfer LR et al The World Blind Union Guide to the Marrakesh Treaty: Facilitating Access to Books for Print-Disabled Individuals (Oxford University Press New York 2014)
World Intellectual Property Organisation Guide to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Paris Act, 1971) (WIPO Geneva 1978)
WIPO Records of the Intellectual Property Conference of Stockholm, 1967, Volume 2 (WIPO Geneva 1971)
Case law
Ascendis Animal Health (Pty) Limited v Merck Sharpe Dohme Corporation 2020 1 SA 327 (CC)
Blind SA v Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition (14996/21) [2021] ZAGPPHC 871 (7 December 2021)
Certification of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 1996 4 SA 744 (CC)
Democratic Alliance v President of South Africa 2014 4 SA 402 (WCC)
Golden China TV Game Centre v Nintendo Co Ltd 1997 1 SA 405 (SCA)
Laugh It Off Promotions CC v South African Breweries International (Finance) BV 2006 1 SA 144 (CC)
Moneyweb (Pty) Limited v Media 24 Limited 2016 4 SA 591 (GJ)
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of South Africa: In re Ex Parte President of the Republic of South Africa 2000 2 SA 674 (CC)
Legislation
Afghanistan
Law Supporting the Rights of Authors, Composers, Artists and Researchers (Copyright Law) (2008)
Albania
Law No 35/2016 of 31 March 2016 on Copyright and Related Rights
Australia
Copyright Act 63 of 1968
Botswana
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Act 8 of 2000 (Chapter 68:02)
Cabo Verde
Decree-Law No 1/2009 of 27 April 2009 on the Revision of Copyright Law
Canada
Copyright Act (RSC, 1985, c C-42)
China
Regulation on the Protection of the Right to Network Dissemination of Information 468 of 2006
Dominican Republic
Law No 65-00 of 21 August 2000 on Copyright
France
Law No 92–597 of 1 July 1992 on the Intellectual Property Code (amended by Act No. 2016-925 of 7 July 2016)
India
Copyright Act 14 of 1957
Iran
Act for Protection of Authors, Composers and Artists Rights (Copyright Law) (12 January 1970)
Translation and Reproduction of Books, Periodical and Phonograms Act (26 December 1973)
Jordan
Law No 22 of 1992 on Copyright and its Amendments (2005)
Netherlands
Act of 23 September 1912, Containing New Regulation for Copyright, § 15a (Copyright Act 1912, as amended up to 1 September 2017)
Singapore
Copyright Act, 2021
South Africa
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Copyright Act 98 of 1978
Performers' Protection Act 11 of 1967
Patents Act 57 of 1978
Competition Act 89 of 1998
Sudan
Copyright and Neighbouring Rights (Protection) and Literal and Artistic Works Act, 2013
Sweden
Act (1960:729) on Copyright in Literary and Artistic Works (as amended up to Act (2018:1099))
United States of America
US Code § 108 - Limitations on Exclusive Rights: Reproduction by Libraries and Archives
Government publications
Copyright Amendment Bill [B13-2017]
GN 646 in GG 39028 of 27 July 2015
Performers' Protection Amendment Bill [B24-2016]
International instruments
Agreement Revising the Bangui Agreement of March 2, 1977, on the Creation of an African Intellectual Property Organisation (1999)
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886)
Directive 2001/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Harmonisation of Certain Aspects of Copyright and Related Rights in the Information Society (2001)
Directive 2009/24/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Legal Protection of Computer Programs (2009)
Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council on Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Single Market (2019)
Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled (2013)
World Intellectual Property Organisation Copyright Treaty (1996)
World Intellectual Property Organisation Performances and Phonograms Treaty (1996)
World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (1994)
Internet sources
Band J 2020 Analysis of Woods and Myburgh Comments on CAB - Joint PIJIP/TLS Research Paper Series #55 https://digitalcommons.
wcl.american.edu/research/55/ accessed 28 July 2022
Blind SA 2020 Blind SA Serves Papers on the President and Others at the Constitutional Court in Respect of the Copyright Amendment Bill https://blindsa.org.za/2020/06/08/blind-sa-serves-papers-on-the-president-and-others-at-the-constitutional-court-in-respect-of-the-copyright-amendment-bill/ accessed 29 November 2021
Blind SA 2021 Court Case to #Endthebookfamine https://blindsa.org.za/2021/09/08/court-case-to-endthebookfamine/ accessed 29 November 2021
Blind SA and SECTION27 2021 High Court Declares Copyright Act Unconstitutional! https://section27.org.za/2021/09/high-court-declares-copyright-act-unconstitutional/ accessed 29 November 2021
Blind SA and SECTION27 2021 Joint Media Statement: Blind SA Files Court Papers with Constitutional Court https://section27.org.za/
/11/blind-sa-and-section27-joint-media-statement-blind-sa-files-court-papers-with-constitutional-court/ accessed 29 November 2021
Daniels L 2021 Challenge to the Constitutionality of "Outdated" Copyright Act Heads to Court https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-04-07-civil-society-challenge-constitutionality-of-outdated-copyright-act-in-court/ accessed 29 November 2021
Davies R 2014 Budget Vote Address Delivered by Dr Rob Davies, Minister of Trade and Industry http://www.thedtic.gov.za/the-dti-budget-vote-address-delivered-by-dr-rob-davies-minister-of-trade-and-industry-22-july-2014/ accessed 29 November 2021
Department of Trade and Industry 2011 Copyright Review Commission Report https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/gcis_document/201409/crc-report.pdf accessed 28 July 2022
Department of Trade and Industry 2015 Trade and Industry Hosts Consultative Conference on Copyright Amendment Bill, 27 Aug https://www.gov.za/speeches/dti-hosts-conference-copyright-law-changes-2015-08-20-20-aug-2015-0000 accessed 29 November 2021
Electronic Information for Libraries 2016 Draft Law on Copyright Including Model Exceptions and Limitations for Libraries and Their Users https://www.eifl.net/system/files/resources/201607/eifl_draft_law_2016_online.pdf accessed 28 July 2022
Elkin-Koren N and Netanel NW 2020 Transplanting Fair Use Across the Globe: A Case Study Testing the Credibility of US Opposition - Joint PIJIP/TLS Research Paper Series 50 https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.
edu/research/50/ accessed 28 July 2022
European Union date unknown GestDem 2020/2472 and 2020/2478 Annex I: List of Documents https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/7916/response/
/attach/12/Gestdem%202020%202472%20REDA%20List%20of%20documents.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 accessed 29 November 2021
European Union 2020 Meeting with Rightholders Concerning Copyright Bill in South Africa https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/7916/response/26627/
attach/10/Doc%2033%20Ares%202020%202496211%20Meeting%20Report%20Minutes%20TRADE%201444%20Redacted.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1 accessed 29 November 2021
Genesis Analytics 2014 Assessment of the Regulatory Proposals on the Intellectual Property Policy Framework for South Africa https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5af97dc05cfd7928de4ee753/t/5d7f3ca1de5a2c25a5546d9e/1568619696643/impact+study+DTI+Genesis+Study_2.pdf accessed 28 July 2022
Kayali L 2020 How the US and European Union Pressured South Africa to Delay Copyright Reform https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/28/
copyright-reform-south-africa-344101 accessed 29 November 2021
Myburgh A 2018 Advice on the Copyright Amendment Bill, No 13 of 2017, Revised as at 3 September 2018 for the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa http://legalbrief.co.za/media/filestore/2018/10/andre_myburgh.pdf accessed 28 July 2022
Myburgh A 2019 Copyright Amendment Bill, No B13 of 2017 and Performers Protection Amendment Bill, No B24 of 2016: Request to Deal with Incorrect Statements Made in the dti Presentation on 6 March 2019 Regarding Provisions of the Bill Having Been "Cleared" or "Verified" by the Panel of Experts https://legalbrief.co.za/media/filestore/2019/03/
Letter_AF_Myburgh_to_Minister_R_Davies_Mr_E_Makue_14Mar2019.pdf accessed 28 July 2022
New York Public Library 2022 About the Thomas Yoseloff Business Center at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library https://www.nypl.org/about/
locations/snfl/business accessed 28 July 2022
Nicholson DM 2019 The Copyright Amendment Bill: Its Genesis and Passage through Parliament (June 2019 LIASA-in-Touch) https://infojustice.org/archives/41167 accessed 28 July 2022
Parliamentary Monitoring Group 2022 Bill History: Copyright Amendment Bill (B13-2017) https://pmg.org.za/bill/705/ accessed 29 November 2021
Parliamentary Monitoring Group 2022 Copyright Amendment Bill: Additional Amendments https://pmg.org.za/call-for-comment/1114/ accessed 01 March 2022
Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry 2021 National Assembly: Public Hearings on the Clauses Related to the President's Reservations in terms of the Copyright and the Performers' Protection Amendment Bills, Virtual Meeting Platform, 11th August 2021 https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=76wB4BIP2Ss accessed 29 November 2021
Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry 2021 National Assembly: Public Hearings on the Clauses Related to the President's Reservations in terms of the Copyright and the Performers' Protection Amendment Bills, Virtual Meeting Platform, 12th August 2021 https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=pXcdwUwyrtM&t=29766s accessed 29 November 2021
Ricketson S 2003 WIPO Study on Limitations and Exceptions of Copyright and Related Rights in the Digital Environment https://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/doc_details.jsp?doc_id=16805 accessed 28 July 2022
Samtani S 2020 The Domestic Effect of South Africa's Treaty Obligations: The Right to Education and the Copyright Amendment Bill (2020) - PIJIP/TLS Research Paper Series 61 https://digitalcommons.wcl.american.
edu/research/61/ accessed 28 July 2022
Samtani S and Harding M 2021 Long-Awaited Realisation of the Right of Access to Materials Under Copyright of Persons with Visual and Print Disabilities in South Africa https://ohrh.law.ox.ac.uk/long-awaited-realisation-of-the-right-of-access-to-materials-under-copyright-of-persons-with-visual-and-print-disabilities-in-south-africa/ accessed 29 November 2021
Saxby P 2021 South Africans Deserve to Know Why the Copyright Amendment Bill has Languished in Bureaucratic Limbo for Four Years https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2021-08-15-south-africans-deserve-to-know-why-the-copyright-amendment-bill-has-languished-in-bureaucratic-limbo-for-four-years/ accessed 28 July 2022
Seng D 2017 Updated Study and Additional Analysis of Study on Copyright Limitations and Exceptions for Educational Activities - Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights, Thirty-Fifth Session, Geneva, November 13 to 17, 2017 https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/copyright/en/sccr_35/sccr
_35_5.pdf accessed 28 July 2022
University of the Witwatersrand 2022 Copyright and Related Issues: Copyright Amendment Bill 2015 https://libguides.wits.ac.za/Copyright_and_
Related_Issues/SA_Copyright_Amendment_Bill_2015 accessed 29 November 2021
World Trade Organisation Council for Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights 2020 Communication from India and South Africa: Waiver from Certain Provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the Prevention, Containment and Treatment of Covid-19, IP/C/W/669 (2 October 2020) https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/IP/C/W669.pdf&Open=True accessed 17 August 2022
Office of the United States Trade Representative 2019 Announces GSP Enforcement Actions and Successes for Seven Countries https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 Klaus D Beiter, Sean M Flynn, Malebakeng Forere, Jonathan Klaaren, Caroline Ncube, Enyinna Nwauche, Andrew Rens, Sanya Samtani, Tobias Schonwetter
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}