Litnet

"Enige persoon wat inkomste verdien uit die vrugte van hul kreatiwiteit, soos ’n skrywer, benodig wetgewing wat dit vir hulle moontlik en volhoubaar maak. Kopieregwetgewing moet dus aanhou om kreatiwiteit te beskerm en skeppende mense aanspoor om aan te hou skep en vernuwe (want die samelewing in die geheel vind baat daarby)."

"As jy as doodgewone Suid-Afrikaanse burger omgee oor die land se welvaart, behoort jy hieroor om te gee. Kunstenaars van oor verskeie dissiplines en skeppende bedrywe stel nie net wonderlike kreatiewe uitdrukkings daar nie, maar skep werk."

"KI gaan verder as net ChatGPT. Grammarly, speltoetsers ens gebruik almal ’n vorm van KI om te help. Het ek dus net outeursreg op my verkeerd gespelde en ongrammatikale werk?"

South African authors, readers and stakeholders in the book industry note with grave concern that the Copyright Amendment Bill is scheduled for concurrence by the National Assembly on 29 February 2024. Read the views of Gabeba Baderoon, Sihle Khumalo, Sihawukele Ngubane, Athol Fugard, Breyten Breytenbach, Jaco Jacobs, Margie Orford, Fanie Viljoen and Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout. You may join in voicing your concern by adding you signature to the online petition.

"Of jy handboeke of rekenaarsagteware skryf, almal wat enige vorm van skeppende werk doen, is ewe kwesbaar onder hierdie wetsontwerp. En 'fair use' impakteer ook outeursreg oor die hele spektrum – sekere bedrywe gaan dit wel vroeër as ander voel, maar dit gaan uiteindelik almal raak."    

The provincial processes are expected to be completed by the second week of May 2023. It was clear during the Select Committee meeting on 25 April that there were concerns about the lateness of some provincial processes, as well as about flaws in the conduct of some hearings. The planned meeting dates for the Select Committee of 16 and 23 May might have to change if provinces take longer – the Committee chair emphasised that there has to be opportunity for full participation by the public. 

Wat is kopiereg? Hoekom is daar iets soos kopiereg? Mag ek iemand se kiekies op die sosiale media deel? Mag ek ’n gedig met WhatsApp na ’n vriendin stuur? En wat van billike gebruik? LitNet het by Catrina Wessels, ’n kopieregkonsultant en literêre agent, gaan aanklop.

"We implore the legislature to reconsider the entire clause 12A and 12D until a proper socio-economic impact assessment has been done. We are legitimately concerned that fair use will diminish legal certainty and harm authors and publishers by diminishing their work, and creating a climate for freely using their work without permission or compensation."

Authors deserve better than what the legislature has given them in the Copyright Amendment Bill that has been railroaded through Parliament despite local and international opposition. Authors’ associations are calling on our members, as well as other authors and interested parties, to spread the word about this bill and to petition against its adoption. Here are the dates and venues to do so in the Eastern Cape.

"Die fair use-leerstuk ... word deur artikel 12A van CAB by ons reg geïnkorporeer. In wese beteken dit dat enige persoon of maatskappy byvoorbeeld groot dele van ’n boek kan herpubliseer of dit kan verwerk tot ’n film, sonder toestemming van die outeur, en bloot aanvoer dis 'billike gebruik'. ...[U]iteindelik is dit tyd dat individue se stemme gehoor word."

"Indien die wysigingswetsontwerp op 1 September deur die Nasionale Vergadering aanvaar word, gaan dit ... na die individuele provinsies vir hul inspraak. Dit is moontlik dat provinsies hul eie openbare konsultasies oor die wysigingswetsontwerp sal hou, waar dit in die belang sal wees van alle skeppende kunstenaars – skrywers, kunstenaars, komponiste, rolprentvervaardigers – om hul sê te sê. Daar is baie op die spel."

PEN Afrikaans het al herhaaldelik ons kritiek op die wetsontwerp geformuleer. Die kritiek geld helaas steeds aangesien dié opspraakwekkende wetsontwerp, ten spyte van grootskaalse teenkanting, slegs kosmetiese veranderinge ondergaan het en steeds op ’n verreikende verswakking van kopieregbeskerming en ’n ontneming van skrywers se bestaande inkomstestrome neerkom.

PwC estimated that the bill will lead to a 33% reduction in booksales with 30% of the industry losing their jobs.

"The Bill erodes copyright protection. It makes it impossible for creators of academic work to protect their legitimate interests, such as being remunerated for their work and having their work’s integrity respected."

"Authors have united in their call upon the South African legislature to refrain from adopting the Copyright Amendment Bill to be debated in the National Assembly this week."

"Authors deserve better than what the legislature has given them in the Copyright Amendment Bill that is being railroaded through Parliament despite local and international opposition. As authors’ associations, we are calling on our members, as well as other authors and interested parties to spread the word about this bill and sign a petition against its adoption."

"Die grootste onbedoelde gevolg van die Wysigingswet – net om dit duidelik te stel – is kulturele vernietiging. Engelse hegemonie sal weereens in alle sektore bevorder word – ten koste van ons inheemse kulture en tale, Afrikaans inkluis."

Onthou die datum: Saterdag 24 Februarie 2018! Dit is die dag waarop ’n belangrike kopiereg-werkswinkel in Pretoria gehou sal word vir outeurs, kunstenaars, musikante, filmvervaardigers en die bedrywe wat in hul werk belê.

"Dit bly van die uiterste belang dat hierdie wetsontwerp nie deurgedruk word nie, maar dat belanghebbendes saamstaan om te verseker dat hulle regte beskerm word."

"For me, as Chair of Intellectual Property, the Bill presents an attack on intellectual property law from a basis of ignorance. It has the potential to create great uncertainty going forward. It comes down to abolishment of property rights and the depreciation of intellectual property as an economic driver."