Copyright

Copyright

Copyright Unpacked: a Basic Introduction to Copyright Law

Posted on Oct 24, 2022

Copyright Unpacked: a Basic Introduction to Copyright Law

A basic primer on copyright law, composed by Professor Owen Dean, now available for download here:   Copyright Unpacked       Follow Share on Tumblr

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Defects in Copyright Amendments Exposed

Posted on Sep 23, 2022

Defects in Copyright Amendments Exposed

STATUS OF THE COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL For literally years, informed commentators on copyright law have been telling the Government that the Copyright Amendment Bill is fundamentally flawed, badly drafted and misguided in many respects. Alas, none so blind as those who will not see and none so deaf as those who will not hear! The machinations around the passage of the Bill through Parliament and abortive attempts to make cosmetic improvements to it have led to it being a work in progress for more than five years now. It was passed, warts and all, by Parliament at the end of the past decade...

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CIP written submissions on additional definitions and clauses in the Copyright Amendment Bill 2017

Posted on Jan 31, 2022

CIP written submissions on additional definitions and clauses in the Copyright Amendment Bill 2017

Following its comprehensive review and comments submitted on the various versions of the Copyright Amendment Bill (2015, 2017, 2018  and 2021), the Chair of IP law has again submitted comments specifically pertaining to additional definitions and clauses in the Amendment Bill. The full text of the Chair’s comments is available for download here. Download comments Follow Share on...

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Amending Copyright – Footing the Bill

Posted on Jul 5, 2021

Amending Copyright – Footing the Bill

The Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) was passed by Parliament despite widespread criticism and condemnation by informed commentators. The CAB was rejected by President Ramaphosa and referred back to Parliament with the direction that it be reviewed and amended where necessary. His objections were mainly centered around the problem that it contained provisions that are in conflict with the South African Constitution and more particularly the Bill of Rights contained in Chapter 2, sections 7 – 39. ‘FOOTING THE BILL’ The term or expression ‘footing the bill’ can have several meanings...

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CIP written submissions on copyright exceptions in the Copyright Amendment Bill 2017

Posted on Jul 2, 2021

CIP written submissions on copyright exceptions in the Copyright Amendment Bill 2017

Following its comprehensive review and comments submitted on the 2015, 2017 and 2018 versions of the Copyright Amendment Bill, the Chair of IP law has again submitted comments specifically pertaining to the copyright exceptions in the Amendment Bill. The full text of the Chair’s comments is available for download here. Download comments Follow Share on...

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The Use Fair

Posted on Jun 24, 2021

The Use Fair

We have all been to fun fairs. A fun fair is a facility set up in a vacant space, usually of temporary duration, devoted to providing entertainment to those who frequent it. There are ferris wheels, merry-go-rounds, helter skelters, tunnels of horrors, dodgem cars, roller coasters and the like. There are also stalls of one form or another where prizes can be won, such as coconut shies where wooden balls are thrown at coconuts, or other targets like effigies of people, with a view to knocking them off their pedestals. Handouts of free gifts are plentiful. ‘Roll up here; all the fun of the...

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