The North West Provincial Legislature is hosting workshops on the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill [B 24D-2016] and the Copyright Amendment Bill [B 13D–2017].

The Workshops held in all districts from the 24-26 April 2023 are meant to educate people about the bills so that they can make meaning full participation during the public hearings that will be held on the 02 may 2023 at Mmabana Lehurutshe in Zeerust, Joubertina Hall in Matlosana, Mmabana Taung and Rustenburg Recreation Centre at 10h00.

The objectives of the Copyright Amendment Bill amongst others is to;
· To develop a legal framework on Copyright and related rights that will promote accessibility to producers, users and consumers in a balanced manner; this includes flexibilities and advancements in the digital space that should empower all strata of the citizens of South Africa.
· To introduce provisions, which deal with matters pertaining to collective management. Collecting societies will only be allowed to collect for their registered members, and all collecting societies have to be accredited with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (‘‘CIPC’’).
· To deal with the protection of works and rights of authors in the digital environment.
· The Bill provides for standard contractual terms to empower authors when negotiating contracts. This will close the loophole that has resulted in unfair contractual terms that has led to creators signing away their rights.
The Objectives of the Copyright Amendment Bill
· To introduce a Resale Royalty Right. This Resale Royalty Right means that an artist could be entitled to a royalty when their original work is resold commercially.
· To introduce a fair use system for the reproduction of copyright material for limited uses or purposes without obtaining permission and without paying a fee or a royalty. Furthermore, this provision stipulates the factors that need to be considered in determining whether the copyright work is used fairly.
· To provide for exceptions and limitations in education, libraries, archives and museums, computer programs; To provide for the availability of accessible format copies of a work to accommodate persons with disabilities. This provision extends beyond matters pertaining to the blind and includes other disabilities such as learning disabilities, dyslexia etc.
· To provide for the sharing of royalties in respect of literary, musical, artistic and audio visual works.
· It provides for the recordal and reporting of certain acts.