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Fin24 reports that a coalition of artists, writers and publishers has written to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Minister Rob Davies to challenge the Copyright Amendment Bill, which was due to be adopted by the National Council of Provinces on Wednesday.
The coalition comprises writers, book and music publishers, film directors, producers, musicians, performing artists, film and television workers, content creators and business people. The bill seeks to update SA’s four-decade-old copyright law and the DTI argues it will protect authors, composers, artists and other professionals in the publishing sector, and that it will improve access to educational materials. However, the coalition's letter claims that the bill carries "unintended negative consequences" and is potentially "devastating" to the creative industry. The Bill will lead to job losses, the writers argue, as academic publishing becomes less financially viable, forcing publishers to close. The letter cites an impact assessment by PwC and the Publishers' Association of SA (PASA) which found that 1,250 jobs – nearly a third in the publishing industry – would likely be lost due to implementation of the Bill. The same report found that the Bill could see a 33% decrease in sales, equivalent to R2.1bn, plus a decrease in exports of local titles. The letter argues there will be an additional impact on the film industry, as well as on satellite industries. Even where jobs aren't lost, the Bill will cause loss of income to working creatives, the coalition points out.
- Read the full original of Marelise van der Merwe’s report on opposition to the Bill at Fin24
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page