Copyright and Transformation in the Age of Constitutional Democracy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/2522-6800/15945Keywords:
copyright law, copyright reform, constitutional law, transformative constitutionalism, adjudication, judicial methodology, legislative amendment, executive actionAbstract
South African copyright law has been the subject of sustained controversy and contestation in recent years, primarily as a result of protracted and ongoing legislative reform efforts as well as a high-profile constitutional challenge to the regulating statute. Despite being front and centre in the public’s attention, meaningful progress towards aligning copyright law with constitutional imperatives remains limited. This article traces the (lack of) advancement across the three branches of government—legislative, executive and judicial—and examines the likely causes behind each. It concludes that the dominant legal culture bears as much responsibility as foreign trade pressures and divisive stakeholder engagements in Parliament. It argues that the judiciary, in particular, holds significant but underused potential to drive the constitutional transformation of the country’s copyright law.
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Cases
ADP Marine and Modular Proprietary Limited v Rocher and Others [2023] ZAWCHC 225.
Bergh and Others v Agricultural Research Council 2020 BIP 455 (SCA).
Blind SA v Ministry of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others 2021 ZAGPPHC 871; 2021 BIP 14 (GP).
Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2022] ZACC 33.
Foschini Retail Group (Pty) (Ltd) and 9 Others v South African Music Performance Rights Association [2013] ZAGPPHC 304.
Gallo Africa Ltd and Others v Sting Music (Pty) Ltd and Others 2010 (6) SA 329 (SCA).
Haupt t/a Softcopy v Brewers Marketing Intelligence (Pty) Ltd and Others 2006 (4) SA 458 (SCA).
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha and Another v Hoffmann International (Pty) Ltd and Others [2010] ZAGPJHC 120.
Laugh It Off Promotions CC v South African Breweries International (Finance) BV t/a Sabmark International and Another 2006 1 SA 144 (CC).
Media 24 Books (Pty) Ltd v Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd [2015] 3 All SA 478 (WCC).
Media 24 Books (Pty) Ltd v Oxford University Press Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd 2017 (2) SA 1 (SCA).
Moneyweb (Pty) Limited v Media 24 Limited and Another [2016] 3 All SA 193 (GJ); 2016 (4) SA 591 (GJ).
National Soccer League t/a Premier Soccer League v Gidani (Pty) Ltd [2014] 2 All SA 461 (GJ).
Non-Detonating Solutions (Pty) Ltd v Durie [2015] 4 All SA 630 (SCA); 2016 (3) SA 445 (SCA).
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of SA: In re ex parte President of the RSA 2000 (2) SA 674 (CC).
Quad Africa Energy (Pty) Ltd v The Sugarless Company (Pty) Ltd and Another [2020] 2 All SA 687 (SCA); 2020 (6) SA 90 (SCA); 2020 BIP 426 (SCA).
Mokoena and Another v Minister of Tourism and Others [2021] ZAGPJHC 635.
Nestle Nespresso S.A v Secret River Trading CC t/a Caffeluxe Distributors [2015] ZAWCHC 137.
Rapid Phase Entertainment CC v SABC [1997] JOL 393 (W).
Snap-On Africa (Pty) Ltd and Others v Joubert and Others [2015] 1249 JOC (GDP).
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The Philanthropic Collection (Pty) Ltd v Girls and Boys South Africa [2017] ZAGPJHC 302.
Transunion Auto Information Solutions (Pty) Ltd v Autobid (Pty) Ltd [2012] ZAKZDHC 22.
Legislation
Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (adopted 9 September 1886, revised 14 July 1967 and 24 July 1971) 1161 UNTS 3.
Constitution of 1961.
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa Act 200 of 1993.
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996.
Copyright Act 98 of 1978.
Copyright Amendment Act 56 of 1980.
Copyright Amendment Bill, 2015 (GN 642, GG 39028, 27 July 2015).
Copyright Amendment Bill [B–13F 2017].
Draft National Policy on Intellectual Property, 2013 (GN 918, GG 36816, 4 September 2013).
Draft Intellectual Property Policy of South Africa—Phase I, 2017 (GN 636, GG 41064, 25 August 2017).
Copyright Regulations, 1978 (GN R2530, GG 6252, 22 December 1978).
Intellectual Property Laws Rationalisation Act 107 of 1996.
Intellectual Property Policy of South Africa—Phase I, 2018 (GN 518, GG 41870, 30 August 2018).
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Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act 4 of 2000.
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South African Act of 1909.
Status of the Union Act of 1934
WIPO Copyright Treaty 1996, (1997) 36 International Legal Materials 65.
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