Publishers’ association of south africa

INTRODUCTION

The use of electronic communication technology such as e-mail and the Internet is putting strain on traditional copyright issues. The problem has been recognised by the international community and in 1996 the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) initiated the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) in an effort to address digital copyright issues. Although South Africa signed the treaty, no steps have been taken to introduce it into local copyright legislation. Both the USA and the EU have addressed digital copyright in their legislation, as detailed in the WCT.

Download the WCT from: http://www.wipo.int/clea/docs/en/wo/wo033en.htm
Local copyright stakeholders, such as book publishers, newspapers, magazines, printers, distributors, authors and web site owners have to rely on a copyright act that is outdated. The current status leaves rightholders unprotected and promotes copyright infringement.

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