This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'EEAS letter to the Office of the South African President on the South African Draft Copyright Bill'.



Ref. Ares(2020)3170450 - 18/06/2020




Art.4(1)(b)


Art.4(1)(b)
Art.4(1)(b)
Art.4(1)(b)

1. General Policy Objectives
South Africa rightly gives education and access to knowledge and culture a high policy 
priority. There is a strong interest in making sure that the citizens of South Africa have access 
to high-quality schoolbooks and that literacy and reading strengthens national identity and 
diversity. Copyright plays an important role here, and the current Bil  includes policy 
measures that intend to broaden access. At the same time, many proposed measures will 
impact on the ability of South African authors and publishers to write and publish for South 
African readers, including students. 
As it does in other jurisdictions, South African copyright law will strongly determine whether 
local writers and local publishers wil  choose to devote their careers and invest their 
resources into writing and publishing local books.  
Weakened South African copyright laws that enable uses without reward for creators or that 
undermine copyright enforcement will foster a dependence on content from foreign countries 
where strong copyright laws encourage creativity and investment. Currently, the South 
African publishing industry is well placed to compete with other publishing industries —  
particularly in the English speaking, developing world. Becoming a net exporter of 
knowledge-based goods in the future is predicated upon enabling a national copyright 
framework that nurtures and drives forward strong, national publishing and creative 
industries. 
Exceptions play an important role in copyright law. They ensure that rights do not 
unnecessarily impede insubstantial or common-sense reproductions. Copyright exceptions, 
however, are not intended to enable users to avoid purchasing works altogether, nor in other 
ways to avoid providing creators and their publishers with appropriate remuneration. As the 
photocopying, digitization and making available of substantial parts of works has become 
more widespread, collective management organisations, such as DALRO, have stepped in to 
enable reasonable copying while ensuring simple, fair and balanced remuneration. These 
fundamental principles must be borne in mind as South Africa changes its copyright law. 
2. South African and International Copyright Law
South Africa is a contracting party of the Berne Convention and the WIPO Convention, and it 
signed the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) in 1997. IPA welcomes the steps undertaken in the 
Bill to adapt national copyright law to international obligations with a view to acceding to the 
WCT. We also welcome all steps that will enable South Africa to accede to the WIPO 
Performances and Phonograms Treaty

3. WIPO Marrakesh Treaty
We would strongly urge South Africa to take this opportunity to implement the Marrakesh 
Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired 




5.  Education exceptions 
 
The Bill seeks to expand exceptions for ‘educational activities’. The exceptions are broad, 
numerous, and definitions are ambiguous. The only real restriction on these exceptions is 
t6hat the allowed use may not be for profit or commercial gain. Given the importance of non-
commercial providers in the educational sector, these exceptions wil , therefore allow large 
scale, systematic and substantial copying of educational content without any compensation 
for rightsholders.  
 
We ask that these exceptions be tightened with clear wording that limits uncompensated use 
to a small set of clearly circumscribed special cases, which in turn do not unreasonably 
prejudice the interest of authors and publishers.  
 
Copyright exceptions are intended to allow a very limited set of uses. For example, special 
provisions in international treaties limit exceptions to ‘illustration for teaching’. Implementing 
the Bill as currently worded creates a clear risk that South Africa will be in violation of its 
international obligations under the Berne Convention. Under no circumstances do 
international copyright treaties allow exceptions that intend to ensure that the regular supply 
of educational content is provided under copyright exceptions. Exceptions are not intended to 
reduce costs for commercial or non-commercial suppliers, nor are they meant to replace 
functioning markets. 
 
The exceptions being contemplated also create a great risk that the market in South African 
education will shrink to the point that it will no longer be able to sustain a local educational 
publishing industry.  
 
Canada is a prime example of the dangerous consequences of such an approach. A recent 
study by PricewaterhouseCoopers2 has shown the dramatic impact that broad copyright 
exceptions can have on the provision of textbooks. The Canadian educational publishing 
industry has been dealt what many believe is a lethal blow. At least one Canadian education 
publisher has closed as a result, others are reducing staff, and the incomes of Canadian 
authors have been badly affected.  
 
South Africa, with its unique culture, history, diversity and destiny has requirements that are 
unlike those of any other country. Such requirements are best satisfied by locally based, 
innovative and viable educational publishers who understand their readers and curricula, and 
know how to best deliver high-quality content. Our experience shows that a vibrant, 
competitive and open market is the best way to develop, produce and distribute such content 
effectively and efficiently, at an affordable price. IPA is not aware of a government anywhere 
in the world which can provide quality textbooks and secure their effective and efficient 
distribution at a price anywhere near the low cost that effective competition achieves in the 
most demanding global markets. 
                                                           
2 http://www.accesscopyright.ca/media/94983/access copyright report.pdf