Copyright Amendment Bill advances despite outcry
Critics of the proposed law say some of its clauses are devoid of logic
A bill aimed at ensuring fair compensation for publishers, artists and film producers has been described by some in the creative industry as “deeply flawed” and devoid of logic. A parliamentary committee approved the Copyright Amendment Bill last week, and it is expected to be voted on by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Thursday. If approved there, it will be sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa for final approval. “We had hoped that common sense would prevail and that this deeply flawed bill would be withdrawn in order to repair its imprecise terminology and to redraft the parts that erode creators’ rights,” said Collen Dlamini, head of regulatory affairs at Kagiso Media. Tiso Blackstar Group, which owns Business Day, indirectly holds shares in Kagiso Media.
The bill contains broad exceptions that allow for the free use of copyrighted content. Those who oppose it say the legislation would benefit multinational technology platforms such as Google, as well as the gover...
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