Minister says there are safeguards meant to ensure that the intended use is in fact fair, as industry players call on Ramaphosa to refer the bill back to parliamentTrade & industry minister Rob Davies has moved to allay fears about the controversial Copyright Amendment Bill, which industry players say will amount to the expropriation of local content without compensation if signed into law.
Industry stakeholders, including musicians, filmmakers and publishers, have raised concern about the Copyright Amendment Bill in particular. One of the more contentious aspects of the bill is its introduction of the “fair use” principle used in the US and favoured by Google, which, in effect, allows for the free use of copyrighted content.
The department of trade & industry said the bill could be signed into law in full or partially with some clauses rejected, or could be withdrawn by the president and returned to the National Assembly. “It was agreed that whichever the outcome, the government would engage stakeholders to ensure a sustainable legislation and ensure further deliberations for a successful and transformed creative industry,” the department said.
Dlamini said that should the bill be signed into law, SA creatives will no longer be paid for the content they create. “Our writers will stop writing. Our singers will stop singing. Our artists will stop drawing. Local writers, artists and musicians will be the losers. Big global tech companies with access to an abundance of cheap local content will be the winners.”