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Copyright Act, 1978

Act 98 of 1978

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Copyright Act, 1978
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Act 98 of 1978
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South Africa

Copyright Act, 1978

Act 98 of 1978

  • Published in Government Gazette 6092 on 30 June 1978
  • Assented to on 20 June 1978
  • There are multiple commencements
    • Provisions Status
    Section 1; Chapter 5, section 39–40 commenced on 30 June 1978.
    Chapter 1 (section 2–22); Chapter 2 (section 23–28); Chapter 3 (section 29–36); Chapter 4 (section 37–38); Chapter 5, section 41–44, section 46–47 commenced on 1 January 1979.
    Section 1(2A); Chapter 1, section 21(1)(a)–(e) commenced on 23 May 1980.
    Chapter 1, section 15(3A); Chapter 2, section 26(8) commenced on 17 October 1983.
    Chapter 1, section 2(1)(h), section 3(2)(a)(i)–(iv), (2)(f), section 4(1)(e), section 8(1)(g), section 11A, section 19A; Chapter 2, section 26(9)–(10), section 27(8); Chapter 5, section 43(d) commenced on 22 June 1984.
    Chapter 5, section 45 not yet commenced.
  • [This is the version of this document as it was from 1 April 1989 to 31 July 1989.]
  1. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1980 (Act 56 of 1980) on 23 May 1980]
  2. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1983 (Act 66 of 1983) on 17 October 1983]
  3. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1984 (Act 52 of 1984) on 22 June 1984]
  4. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1986 (Act 39 of 1986) on 23 April 1986]
  5. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 13 of 1988) on 25 September 1987]
  6. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1988 (Act 13 of 1988) on 23 March 1988]
  7. [Amended by Copyright Amendment Act, 1989 (Act 61 of 1989) on 1 April 1989]
(Afrikaans text signed by the State President.)ACTTo regulate copyright and to provide for matters incidental thereto.BE IT ENACTED by the State President, the Senate and the House of Assembly of the Republic of South Africa, as follows:—

1. Definitions

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise indicates—"adaptation", in relation to—(a)a literary work, includes—(i)in the case of a non-dramatic work, a version of the work in which it is converted into a dramatic work;(ii)in the case of a dramatic work, a version of the work in which it is converted into a non-dramatic work;(iii)a translation of the work; or(iv)a version of the work in which the story or action is conveyed wholly or mainly by means of pictures in a form suitable for reproduction in a book or in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical;(b)a musical work, includes any arrangement or transcription of the work, if such arrangement or transcription has an original creative character;(c)an artistic work, includes a transformation of the work in such a manner that the original or substantial features thereof remain recognizable;"arbitration" means arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1965 (Act No. 42 of 1965);"artistic work" means, irrespective of the artistic quality thereof—(a)paintings, sculptures, drawings, engravings and photographs;(b)works of architecture, being either buildings or models of buildings; or(c)works of artistic craftsmanship, or works of craftmanship of a technical nature, not falling within either paragraph (a) or (b);[paragraph (c) substituted by section 1(a) of Act 66 of 1983]"author", in relation to—(a)a literary, musical or artistic work, means the person who first makes or creates the work;(b)a photograph, means the person who is responsible for the composition of the photograph;(c)a sound recording, means the person by whom the arrangements for the first fixing of the sounds of a performance or of other sounds were made;(d)a cinematograph film, means the person by whom the arrangements for the making of the film were made;(e)a broadcast, means the Corporation;(f)a programme-carrying signal, means the Corporation;(g)a published edition, means the publisher of the edition;[paragraph (g) added by section 1(a) of Act 52 of 1984]"broadcast" means a broadcasting service as defined in section 1 of the Broadcasting Act, 1976 (Act No. 73 of 1976), and includes the emitting of programme-carrying signals to a satellite; and a reference to "broadcast" when used as a noun, shall be construed accordingly;"broadcaster" means a person who undertakes a broadcasting service as defined in section 1 of the Broadcasting Act, 1976 (Act No. 73 of 1976);"building" includes any structure;"cinematograph film" means the first fixation by any means whatsoever on film or any other material of a sequence of images capable, when used in conjunction with any mechanical, electronic or other device, of being seen as a moving picture and of reproduction, and includes the sounds embodied in a sound-track associated with the film;"copy" means a reproduction in written form or in the form of a recording or a cinematograph film or in any other material form: Provided that an object shall not be taken to be a copy of a work of architecture unless the object is a building or a model of a building;"copyright" means copyright under this Act;"Corporation" means the South African Broadcasting Corporation as defined in section 1 of the Broadcasting Act, 1976 (Act No. 73 of 1976);"country" includes any colony, protectorate or territory subject to the authority or under the suzerainty of any other country, and any territory over which trusteeship is exercised;"derived signal" is a signal obtained by modifying the technical characteristics of the emitted signal, whether or not there have been one or more intervening fixations;"diffusion service" means a telecommunication service of transmissions consisting of sounds, images, signs or signals, which takes place over wires or other paths provided by material substance and intended for reception by specific members of the public; and diffusion shall not be deemed to constitute a performance or a broadcast or as causing sounds, images, signs or signals to be seen or heard; and where sounds, images, signs or signals are displayed or emitted by any receiving apparatus to which they are conveyed by diffusion in such manner as to constitute a performance or a causing of sounds, images, signs or signals to be seen or heard in public, this shall be deemed to be effected by the operation of the receiving apparatus;"distribution", in relation to—(a)a sound recording, means any act by which records embodying the sound recording are offered, directly or indirectly, to the general public or any section thereof;(b)programme-carrying signals, means any operation by which a distributor transmits derived signals to the general public or any section thereof;"distributor", in relation to programme-carrying signals, means the person who decides that the transmission of the derived signal to the general public or any section thereof shall take place;"dramatic work" includes a choreographic work or entertainment in dumb show, if reduced to the material form in which the work or entertainment is to be presented, but does not include a cinematograph film as distinct from a scenario or script for a cinematograph film;"drawing" includes any drawing of a technical nature or any diagram, map, chart or plan;[definition of "drawing" substituted by section 1(b) of Act 66 of 1983]"emitted signal" means a programme-carrying signal which goes to or passes through a satellite;"engraving" includes any etching, lithograph, woodcut, print or similar work, but does not include a photograph;"exclusive licence" means a licence authorizing a licensee, to the exclusion of all other persons, including the grantor of the licence, to exercise a right which by virtue of this Act would, apart from the licence, be exercisable exclusively by the owner of the copyright; and "exclusive licensee" shall be construed accordingly;"infringing copy", in relation to—(a)a literary, musical or artistic work or a published edition, means a reproduction thereof;[paragraph (a) substituted by section 1(b) of Act 52 of 1984](b)a sound recording or a substantial part thereof, means a record embodying that recording;(c)a cinematograph film, means a copy of the film; and(d)a broadcast, means a cinematograph film of it or a copy of a cinematograph film of it or a sound recording of it or a record embodying a sound recording of it or a still photograph or an individual image or a copy of a still photograph,being in any such case an article the making of which constituted an infringement of the copyright in the work, recording, cinematograph film or broadcast or, in the case of an imported article, would have constituted an infringement of that copyright if the article had been made in the Republic;"judicial proceedings" means proceedings before any court, tribunal or person having by law power to hear, receive and examine evidence on oath;"licence" means a licence granted by or on behalf of the owner or prospective owner of the copyright in a literary, musical or artistic work or in a sound recording or a broadcast, being—(a)in the case of a literary or musical work, a licence to publish the work in a material form or to perform the work or an adaptation thereof in public or to broadcast it or to record it or to cause it to be transmitted in a diffusion service;(b)in the case of an artistic work, a licence to include it or an adaptation thereof in a cinematograph film or in a prerecorded or live television broadcast or to cause the work or an adaptation thereof to be transmitted in a diffusion service;(c)in the case of a sound recording, a licence to make a record embodying it; and(d)in the case of a broadcast, a licence to rebroadcast it, to record it or to cause it to be transmitted in a diffusion service;"licence scheme", in relation to licences of any description, means a scheme prepared by one or more licensing bodies, setting out the classes of cases in which they are willing or the person on whose behalf they act is willing to grant licences of that description, and the charges, if any, and terms and conditions subject to which licences may be granted in those classes of cases, and includes anything in the nature of such a scheme, whether described as a scheme or as a tariff or by any other name;"licensing body", in relation to—(a)such licences as are mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of the definition of "licence", means a society or other organization which has as one of its objects the negotiation or granting of such licences, either as owner or prospective owner of copyright or as agent for the owners or prospective owners thereof;(b)such licence as is mentioned in paragraph (c) of the said definition, means any owner or prospective owner of copyright in sound recordings or any person or body of persons acting as agent for any owners or prospective owners of copyright in sound recordings in relation to the negotiation or granting of such licence; and(c)such licences as are mentioned in paragraph (d) of the said definition, means the Corporation or any organization appointed by it for negotiating or granting such licences;"literary work" includes, irrespective of literary quality and in whatever mode or form expressed—(a)novels, stories and poetical works;(b)dramatic works, stage directions, cinematograph film scenarios and broadcasting scripts;(c)textbooks, treatises, histories, biographies, essays and articles;(d)encyclopaedias and dictionaries;(e)letters, reports and memoranda;(f)lectures, addresses and sermons; and(g)written tables and compilations;"Minister" means the Minister of Economic Affairs and Technology;[definition of "Minister" substituted by section 1(c) of Act 66 of 1983 and by section 1 of Act 13 of 1988]"performance" includes any mode of visual or acoustic presentation of a work, including any such presentation by the operation of a loudspeaker, a radio, television or diffusion receiver or by the exhibition of a cinematograph film or by the use of a record or by any other means, and in relation to lectures, addresses, speeches and sermons, includes delivery thereof; and references to "perform" in relation to a work or an adaptation of a work shall be construed accordingly: Provided that "performance" shall not include broadcasting or re-broadcasting or transmitting a work in a diffusion service;"photograph" means any product of photography or of any process analogous to photography, but does not include any part of a cinematograph film;"plate" includes any stereotype, stone, block, mould, matrix, transfer, negative or other similar appliance;"prescribed" means prescribed by or under this Act;"programme", in relation to programme-carrying signals, means a body of live or recorded material consisting of images or sounds or both, embodied in signals emitted for the purpose of ultimate distribution;"prospective owner", in relation to copyright, means a person who shall be entitled to the copyright, wholly or partially, in a work in which copyright does not yet subsist or whose entitlement to the copyright which does exist shall become effective upon a future event;"published edition" means the first print by whatever process of a particular typographical arrangement of a literary or musical work;[definition of "published edition" inserted by section 1(c) of Act 52 of 1984]"qualified person" means a qualified person within the meaning of section 3(1);"rebroadcasting" means the simultaneous or subsequent broadcasting by one broadcasting organization of the broadcast of another broadcasting organization;"record" means any disc, tape, perforated roll or other device in or on which sounds are embodied so as to be capable of being automatically reproduced therefrom or performed;"Registrar" means the Registrar of Copyright, who shall be the person appointed as Registrar of Patents under section 7 of the Patents Act, 1978;"regulation" means a regulation made under this Act;"reproduction", in relation to—(a)a literary or musical work or a broadcast, includes a reproduction in the form of a record or a cinematograph film;(b)an artistic work, includes a version produced by converting the work into a three-dimensional form or, if it is in three dimensions, by converting it into a two-dimensional form;(c)any work, includes a reproduction made from a reproduction of that work;[paragraph (c) added by section 1(d) of Act 66 of 1983]and references to "reproduce" and "reproducing" shall be construed accordingly;"satellite" means any device in extra-terrestrial space capable of transmitting signals;"signal" means an electronically generated carrier capable of transmitting programmes;"sculpture" includes any cast or model made for purposes of sculpture;"sound recording" means the direct exclusively aural fixation of sounds of a performance or of other sounds capable of being reproduced, but does not include a sound-track associated with a cinematograph film;"this Act" includes the regulations;"work of joint authorship" means a work produced by the collaboration of two or more authors in which the contribution of each author is not separable from the contribution of the other author or authors;"writing" includes any form of notation, whether by hand or by printing, typewriting or any similar process.
(2)Any reference in this Act to a sound-track associated with a cinematograph film shall be construed as a reference to any record of sounds which is incorporated in any print, negative, tape or other article on which the film or part of it, in so far as it consists of visual images, is recorded or which is issued by the author of the film for use in conjunction with such an article.
(2A)Any reference in this Act to the doing of any act in relation to any work shall, unless the context otherwise indicates, be construed as a reference also to the doing of any such act in relation to any substantial part of such work.[subsection (2A) inserted by section 1 of Act 56 of 1980]
(3)The provisions of this Act shall with reference to any act or omission outside the territorial limits of the Republic by or on any ship or aircraft registered under any law in the Republic apply in the same manner as it applies with reference to acts or omissions within the territorial limits of the Republic.

Chapter 1
Copyright in original works

2. Works eligible for copyright

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, the following works, if they are original shall be eligible for copyright—
(a)literary works;
(b)musical works;
(c)artistic works;
(d)cinematograph films, to which are assimilated works expressed by a process analogous to cinematography;
(e)sound recordings;
(f)broadcasts;
(g)programme-carrying signals;
(h)published editions.[paragraph (h) added by section 2 of Act 52 of 1984]
[subsection (1) amended by section 2(a) of Act 56 of 1980]
(2)A literary, musical or artistic work shall not be eligible for copyright unless the work has been written down, recorded or otherwise reduced to material form.[subsection (2) substituted by section 2(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
(3)A work shall not be ineligible for copyright by reason only that the making of the work, or the doing of any act in relation to the work, involved an infringement of copyright in some other work.

3. Copyright by virtue of nationality, domicile or residence, and duration of copyright

(1)Copyright shall be conferred by this section on every work, eligible for copyright, of which the author or, in the case of a work of joint authorship, any one of the authors is at the time the work or a substantial part thereof is made, a qualified person, that is—
(a)in the case of an individual, a person who is a South African citizen or is domiciled or resident in the Republic; or
(b)in the case of a juristic person, a body incorporated under the laws of the Republic:
Provided that a work of architecture erected in the Republic or any other artistic work in a building located in the Republic, shall be eligible for copyright, whether or not the author was a qualified person.
(2)The term of copyright conferred by this section shall be, in the case of—
(a)literary or musical works or artistic works, other than photographs, the life of the author and fifty years from the end of the year in which the author dies;Provided that if before the death of the author none of the following acts had been done in respect of such works or an adaptation thereof, namely—
(i)the publication thereof;
(ii)the performance thereof in public;
(iii)the offer for sale to the public of records thereof;
(iv)the broadcasting thereof,
the term of copyright shall continue to subsist for a period of fifty years from the end of the year in which the first of the said acts is done;[paragraph (a) amended by section 3(a) of Act 52 of 1984]
(b)cinematograph films and photographs, fifty years from the end of the year in which the work is lawfully made available to the public or, failing such an event within fifty years from the making of the work, fifty years from the end of the year in which the work is made;
(c)sound recordings, fifty years from the end of the year in which the recording is first published;
(d)broadcasts, fifty years from the end of the year in which the broadcast first takes place;
(e)programme-carrying signals, fifty years from the end of the year in which the signals are emitted to a satellite.
(f)published editions, fifty years from the end of the year in which the edition is first published.[paragraph (f) added by section 3(b) of Act 52 of 1984]
(3)
(a)In the case of anonymous or pseudonymous literary, musical or artistic works, the copyright therein shall subsist for fifty years from the end of the year in which the work is lawfully made available to the public or from the end of the year in which it is reasonable to presume that the author died, whichever term is the shorter.
(b)In the event of the identity of the author becoming known before the expiration of the period referred to in paragraph (a), the term of protection of the copyright shall be calculated in accordance with the provisions of subsection (2).
(4)In the case of a work of joint authorship the reference in the preceding subsections to the death of the author shall be taken to refer to the author who dies last, whether or not he is a qualified person.

4. Copyright by reference to country of origin

(1)Copyright shall be conferred by this section on every work which is eligible for copyright and which—
(a)being a literary, musical or artistic work or a sound recording, is first published in the Republic;
(b)being a broadcast, is made in the Republic;
(c)being a programme-carrying signal, is emitted to a satellite from a place in the Republic;[paragraph (c) amended by section 4(a) of Act 52 of 1984]
(d)being a cinematograph film, is first published or made in the Republic,
and in respect of which copyright is not conferred by section 3;
(e)being a published edition, is first published in the Republic.[paragraph (e) added by section 4(b) of Act 52 of 1984]
(2)Copyright conferred on a work by this section shall be subject to the same term of copyright provided for in section 3 for a similar work.

5. Copyright in relation to the state and certain international organizations

(1)This Act shall bind the state.
(2)Copyright shall be conferred by this section on every work which is eligible for copyright and which is made by or under the direction or control of the state or such international organizations as may be prescribed.
(3)Copyright conferred by this section on a literary or musical work or an artistic work, other than a photograph, shall subsist for fifty years from the end of the year in which the work is first published.
(4)Copyright conferred by this section on a cinematograph film, photograph, sound recording, broadcast, programme-carrying signal or published edition shall be subject to the same term of copyright provided for in section 3 for a similar work.[subsection (4) substituted by section 5 of Act 52 of 1984]
(5)Sections 3 and 4 shall not confer copyright on works with reference to which this section applies.
(6)Copyright which vests in the state shall for administrative purposes be deemed to vest in such officer in the public service as may be designated by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.

6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works

Copyright in a literary or musical work vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
(a)Reproducing the work in any manner or form;
(b)publishing the work;
(c)performing the work in public;
(d)broadcasting the work;
(e)causing the work to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful broadcast, including the work, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (e) substituted by section 3(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
(f)making an adaptation of the work;
(g)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in paragraphs (a) to (e) inclusive.
[section 6 amended by section 3(a) of Act 56 of 1980]

7. Nature of copyright in artistic works

Copyright in an artistic work vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
(a)Reproducing the work in any manner or form;
(b)publishing the work;
(c)including the work in a cinematograph film or a television broadcast;
(d)causing a television or other programme, which includes the work, to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful television broadcast, including the work, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (d) substituted by section 4(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
(e)making an adaptation of the work;
(f)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in paragraphs (a) to (d) inclusive.
[section 7 amended by section 4(a) of Act 56 of 1980]

8. Nature of copyright in cinematograph films

(1)Copyright in a cinematograph film vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
(a)Reproducing the film in any manner or form;
(b)causing the film, in so far as it consists of images, to be seen in public, or, in so far as it consists of sounds, to be heard in public;
(c)broadcasting the film;
(d)causing the film to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful television broadcast, including the film, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (d) substituted by section 5(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
(e)making an adaptation of the film;
(f)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the film, any of the acts specified in relation to the film in paragraphs (a) to (d) inclusive.
(g)letting, or offering or exposing for hire by way of trade, directly or indirectly, a reproduction or an adaptation of the film.[paragraph (g) added by section 6 of Act 52 of 1984 and substituted by section 1 of Act 61 of 1989]
[subsection (1) amended by section 5(a) of Act 56 of 1980]
(2)The authorization to use a work, other than a musical work, for the making of a cinematograph film, or the contribution of a work to such making, shall, in the absence of agreement to the contrary, include the right to broadcast such film.

9. Nature of copyright in sound recordings

Copyright in a sound recording vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
(a)Making, directly or indirectly, a record embodying the sound recording;
(b)letting, or offering or exposing for hire by way of trade, directly or indirectly, a reproduction of the sound recording.[paragraph (b) substituted by section 2 of Act 61 of 1989]
[section 9 substituted by section 6 of Act 56 of 1980]

10. Nature of copyright in broadcasts

Copyright in a broadcast vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
(a)Reproducing, directly or indirectly, the broadcast in any manner or form, including, in the case of a television broadcast, making a still photograph of an individual image;
(b)rebroadcasting the broadcast;
(c)causing the broadcast to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service is operated by the original broadcaster.
[section 10 amended by section 7 of Act 56 of 1980]

11. Nature of copyright in programme-carrying signals

Copyright in programme-carrying signals vests the exclusive right to undertake, or to authorize, the direct or indirect distribution of such signals by any distributor to the general public or any section thereof in the Republic, or from the Republic.

11A. Nature of copyright in published editions

Copyright in a published edition vests the exclusive right to make or to authorize the making of a reproduction of the edition in any manner.[section 11A inserted by section 8 of Act 52 of 1984]

12. General exceptions from protection of literary and musical works

(1)Copyright shall not be infringed if a literary or musical work is used solely, and then only to the extent reasonably necessary—
(a)for the purposes of research or private study by, or the personal or private use of, the person using the work;
(b)for the purposes of criticism or review of that work or of another work; or
(c)for the purpose of reporting current events—
(i)in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical; or
(ii)by means of broadcasting or in a cinematograph film:
Provided that, subject to the provisions of section 13, the expression "used" shall not be construed as authorizing the making of a copy of the whole or a substantial part of the work in question: Provided further, in the case of paragraphs (b) and (c)(i), that the source shall be mentioned, as well as the name of the author if it appears on the work.
(2)The copyright in a literary or musical work shall not be infringed by using the work for the purposes of judicial proceedings or by reproducing it for the purposes of a report of judicial proceedings.
(3)The copyright in a literary or musical work which is lawfully available to the public shall not be infringed by any quotation therefrom, including any quotation from articles in newspapers or periodicals that are in the form of summaries of any such work: Provided that the quotation shall be compatible with fair practice, that the extent thereof shall not exceed the extent justified by the purpose and that the source shall be mentioned, as well as the name of the author if it appears on the work.
(4)The copyright in a literary or musical work shall not be infringed by using such work, to the extent justified by the purpose, by way of illustration in any publication, broadcast or sound or visual record for teaching: Provided that such use shall be compatible with fair practice and that the source shall be mentioned, as well as the name of the author if it appears on the work.
(5)
(a)The copyright in a literary or musical work shall not be infringed by the reproduction of such work by the Corporation by means of its own facilities where such reproduction or any copy thereof is intended exclusively for lawful broadcasts of the Corporation and is destroyed before the expiration of a period of six months immediately following the making of the reproduction, or such longer period as may be agreed to by the owner of the relevant part of the copyright in the work.
(b)Any reproduction of a work made under paragraph (a) may, if it is of an exceptional documentary nature, be preserved in the archive of the Corporation, but shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, not be used for broadcasting or for any other purpose without the consent of the owner of the relevant part of the copyright in the work.
(6)
(a)The copyright in a lecture, address or other work of a similar nature which is delivered in public shall not be infringed by reproducing it in the press or by broadcasting it if such reproduction or broadcast is for an informatory purpose.
(b)The author of a lecture, address or other work referred to in paragraph (a) shall have the exclusive right of making a collection thereof.
(7)The copyright in an article published in a newspaper or periodical, or in a broadcast, on any current economic, political or religious topic shall not be infringed by reproducing it in the press or broadcasting it, if such reproduction or broadcast has not been expressly reserved and the source is clearly mentioned.
(8)
(a)No copyright shall subsist in official texts of a legislative, administrative or legal nature, or in official translations of such texts, or in speeches of a political nature or in speeches delivered in the course of legal proceedings, or in news of the day that are mere items of press information.
(b)The author of the speeches referred to in paragraph (a) shall have the exclusive right of making a collection thereof.
(9)The provisions of subsections (1) to (7) inclusive shall apply also with reference to an adaptation of a work.
(10)The provisions of subsections (1) to (4) inclusive and (6) and (7) shall apply also with reference to a work or an adaptation thereof which is transmitted in a diffusion service.
(11)The provisions of subsections (1) to (4) inclusive and (6), (7) and (10) shall be construed as embracing the right to use the work in question either in its original language or in a different language, and the right of translation of the author shall, in the latter event, be deemed not to have been infringed.
(12)The copyright in a literary or musical work or an adaptation thereof shall not be infringed by a bona fide demonstration thereof to a specific client by a licensed dealer in radio or television receivers or any type of recording equipment.

13. General exceptions in respect of reproduction of works

In addition to reproductions permitted in terms of this Act reproduction of a work shall also be permitted as prescribed by regulation, but in such a manner that the reproduction is not in conflict with a normal exploitation of the work and is not unreasonably prejudicial to the legitimate interests of the owner of the copyright.[section 13 substituted by section 8 of Act 56 of 1980]

14. Special exception in respect of records of musical works

(1)The copyright in a musical work shall not be infringed by a person (in this section referred to as the "manufacturer") who makes a sound recording or a copy of the work or of an adaptation thereof in the Republic, whether from an imported disc, tape, matrix or otherwise, if—
(a)copies of the work or of a similar adaptation of the work were previously made in or imported into the Republic for the purposes of retail sale and were so made or imported by, or with the licence of, the owner of the copyright in the work;
(b)before making the sound recording or copy the manufacturer gave the prescribed notice to the owner of the copyright of his intention to make it;
(c)the manufacturer intends to sell the copy by retail or to supply it for the purpose of resale by retail by another person or to use it for making other records to be so sold or so supplied; and
(d)in the case of a copy which is sold by retail or supplied for the purpose of resale by retail, the manufacturer pays to the owner of the copyright, in the prescribed manner and at the prescribed time, the prescribed royalties.
(2)Where a sound recording or copy comprises, with or without other material, a performance of a musical work or of an adaptation of a musical work in which words are sung or are spoken that are incidental to, or in association with, the music and no copyright subsists in that work or, if copyright does subsist therein, the conditions specified in subsection (1) are fulfilled in relation to such copyright and—
(a)the words consist or form part of a literary work in which copyright subsists; and
(b)the copies referred to in subsection (1)(a) were made or imported by or with the licence of the owner of the copyright in that literary work; and
(c)the conditions specified in subsection (1)(b) and (d) are fulfilled in relation to the owner of that copyright,
the making of the sound recording or copy shall not constitute an infringement of the copyright in the literary work.
(3)For the purposes of this section an adaptation of a work shall be deemed to be similar to an adaptation thereof contained in a previous sound recording or copy if the two adaptations do not substantially differ in their treatment of the work, either in respect of style or, apart from any difference in number, in respect of the performers required to perform them.
(4)A manufacturer may for the purposes of paragraph (a) of subsection (1) make the prescribed enquiries in order to ascertain whether the previous copies referred to in that paragraph were previously made in or imported into the Republic, and if the owner of the copyright fails to reply to such enquiries within the prescribed period, the said previous copies shall be taken to have been made or imported, as the case may be, with the licence of the owner of the copyright.
(5)The preceding provisions of this section shall apply also with reference to sound recordings or copies of a substantial part of a work or an adaptation thereof: Provided that the provisions of subsection (1) shall not apply with reference to—
(a)a copy of the whole of a work or an adaptation thereof unless the previous copies referred to in paragraph (a) of that subsection were copies of the whole of the work or of a similar adaptation; or
(b)a sound recording or copy of a part of a work or an adaptation thereof unless the sound recordings or copies previously made in or imported into the Republic as contemplated in paragraph (a) of that subsection were of, or included, that part of the work or of a similar adaptation.

15. General exceptions from protection of artistic works

(1)The copyright in an artistic work shall not be infringed by its inclusion in a cinematograph film or a television broadcast or transmission in a diffusion service, if such inclusion is merely by way of background, or incidental, to the principal matters represented in the film, broadcast or transmission.
(2)The copyright in a work of architecture or in the relevant drawings shall not be infringed by the reconstruction of that work on the same site in the same style as the original.
(3)The copyright in a artistic work shall not be infringed by its reproduction or inclusion in a cinematograph film or a television broadcast or transmission in a diffusion service, if such work is permanently situated in a street, square or a similar public place.
(3A)
(a)The copyright in an artistic work of which three-dimensional reproductions were made available, whether inside or outside the Republic, to the public by or with the consent of the copyright owner (hereinafter referred to as authorized reproductions), shall not be infringed if any person without the consent of the owner makes or makes available to the public three-dimensional reproductions or adaptations of the authorized reproductions, provided—
(i)[subparagraph (i) deleted by section 2(1)(a) of Act 13 of 1988]
(ii)the authorized reproductions primarily have a utilitarian purpose and are made by an industrial process.
(b)[paragraph (b) deleted by section 2(1)(b) of Act 13 of 1988]
[subsection (3A) inserted by section 2 of Act 66 of 1983]
(4)The provisions of section 12(1), (2), (4), (5) and (12) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to artistic works.

16. General exceptions from protection of cinematograph films

The provisions of section 12(1) to (4) inclusive and (12) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to cinematograph films.

17. General exceptions from protection of sound recordings

The provisions of section 12(1) to (5) inclusive and (12) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to sound record.

18. General exceptions from protection of broadcasts

The provisions of section 12 (1) to (4) inclusive and (12) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to broadcasts.

19. General exceptions from protection of programme-carrying signals

(1)The copyright in programme-carrying signals shall not be infringed by the distribution of short excerpts of the programme so carried—
(a)that consist of reports of current events; or
(b)as are compatible with fair practice,
and to the extent justified by the informatory purpose of such excerpts.
(2)The provisions of this section shall not apply with reference to a programme carried by programme-carrying signals representing a sporting event.

19A. General exceptions from protection of published editions

The provisions of section 12(1), (2), (4), (5), (8) and (12) shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to published editions.[section 19A inserted by section 9 of Act 52 of 1984]

20. Residuary rights

(1)Notwithstanding the transfer of the copyright in a literary, musical or artistic work or in a cinematograph film, the author shall have the right to claim authorship in the work, subject to the provisions of this Act, and to object to any distortion, mutilation or other modification of the work where such action is or would be prejudicial to the honour or reputation of the author: Provided that an author who authorizes the use of his work in a cinematograph film or a television broadcast may not oppose modifications that are absolutely necessary on technical grounds or for the purpose of commercial exploitation of the work.
(2)Any infringement of the provisions of this section shall be treated as an infringement of copyright under Chapter 2.

21. Ownership of copyright

(1)
(a)Subject to the provisions of this section, the ownership of any copyright conferred by section 3 or 4 on any work shall vest in the author or, in the case of a work of joint authorship, in the co-authors of the work.
(b)Where a literary or artistic work is made by an author in the course of his employment by the proprietor of a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical under a contract of service or apprenticeship, and is so made for the purpose of publication in a newspaper, magazine or similar periodical, the said proprietor shall be the owner of the copyright in the work in so far as the copyright relates to publication of the work in any newspaper, magazine or similar periodical or to reproduction of the work for the purpose of its being so published, but in all other respects the author shall be the owner of any copyright subsisting in the work by virtue of section 3 or 4.
(c)Where a person commissions the taking of a photograph, the painting or drawing of a portrait, the making of a gravure, the making of a cinematograph film or the making of a sound recording and pays or agrees to pay for it in money or money’s worth, and the work is made in pursuance of that commission, such person shall, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b), be the owner of any copyright subsisting therein by virtue of section 3 or 4.
(d)Where in a case not falling within either paragraph (b) or (c) a work is made in the course of the author’s employment by another person under a contract of service or apprenticeship, that other person shall be the owner of any copyright subsisting in the work by virtue of section 3 or 4.
(e)Paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) shall in any particular case have effect subject to any agreement excluding the operation thereof and subject to the provisions of section 20.
(2)Ownership of any copyright conferred by section 5 shall initially vest in the state or the international organization concerned, and not in the author.
[section 21 substituted by section 9 of Act 56 of 1980]

22. Assignments and licences in respect of copyright

(1)Subject to the provisions of this section, copyright shall be transmissible as movable property by assignment, testamentary disposition or operation of law.
(2)An assignment or testamentary disposition of copyright may be limited so as to apply to some only of the acts which the owner of the copyright has the exclusive right to control, or to a part only of the term of the copyright, or to a specified country or other geographical area.
(3)No assignment of copyright and no exclusive licence to do an act which is subject to copyright shall have effect unless it is in writing signed by or on behalf of the assignor, the licenser or, in the case of an exclusive sublicence, the exclusive sublicenser, as the case may be.
(4)A non-exclusive licence to do an act which is subject to copyright may be written or oral, or may be inferred from conduct, and may be revoked at any time: Provided that such a licence granted by contract shall not be revoked, either by the person who granted the licence or his successor in title, except as the contract may provide, or by a further contract.
(5)An assignment, licence or testamentary disposition may be granted or made in respect of the copyright in a future work, or the copyright in an existing work in which copyright does not subsist but will come into being in the future, and the future copyright in any such work shall be transmissible as movable property.
(6)A testamentary disposition of the material on which a work is first written or otherwise recorded shall, in the absence of a stipulation to the contrary, be taken to include the disposition of any copyright or future copyright in the work which is vested in the deceased at the time of his death.
(7)A licence granted in respect of any copyright by the person who, in relation to the matters to which the licence relates, is the owner of the copyright, shall be binding upon every successor in title to his interest in the copyright, except a purchaser in good faith and without notice, actual or constructive, of the licence or a person deriving title from such a purchaser, and any reference in this Act to the doing in relation to any copyright of anything with or without the licence of the owner of the copyright shall be construed accordingly.
(8)Where the doing of anything is authorized by the grantee of a licence or a person deriving title from the grantee, and it is within the terms, including any implied terms, of the licence for him to authorize it, it shall for the purposes of this Act be deemed to be done with the licence of the grant or and of every person, if any, upon whom the licence is binding.

Chapter 2
Infringements of copyright and remedies

23. Infringement

(1)Copyright shall be infringed by any person, not being the owner of the copyright, who, without the licence of such owner, does or causes any other person to do, in the Republic, any act which the owner of the copyright may authorize.
(2)Without derogating from the generality of subsection (1), copyright shall be infringed by any person who, without the licence of the owner of the copyright and at a time when copyright subsists in a work—
(a)imports an article into the Republic for a purpose other than for his private and domestic use;
(b)sells, lets, or by way of trade offers or exposes for sale or hire in the Republic any article; or
(c)distributes in the Republic any article for the purposes of trade, or for any other purpose, to such an extent that the owner of the copyright in question is prejudicially affected,
if to his knowledge the making of that article constituted an infringement of that copyright or would have constituted such an infringement if the article had been made in the Republic.
(3)The copyright in a literary or musical work shall be infringed by any person who permits a place of public entertainment to be used for a performance in public of the work, where the performance constitutes an infringement of the copyright in the work: Provided that this subsection shall not apply in a case where the person permitting the place of public entertainment to be so used was not aware and had no reasonable grounds for suspecting that the performance would be an infringement of the copyright.
(4)Where sounds embodied in a sound-track associated with a cinematograph film are also embodied in a record other than such a sound-track or in a record derived directly or indirectly from such a sound-track, the copyright in the film shall not be infringed by the use of that record.

24. Action by owner of copyright for infringement

(1)Subject to the provisions of this Act, infringements of copyright shall be actionable at the suit of the owner of the copyright, and in any action for such an infringement all such relief by way of damages, interdict, accounts, delivery of infringing copies or plates used or intended to be used for infringing copies or otherwise shall be available to the plaintiff as is available in any corresponding proceedings in respect of infringements of other proprietary rights.
(2)Where in an action for infringement of copyright it is proved or admitted that an infringement was committed but that at the time of the infringement the defendant was not aware and had no reasonable grounds for suspecting that copyright subsisted in the work to which the action relates, the plaintiff shall not be entitled under this section to any damages against the defendant in respect of the infringement but shall be entitled to an account of profits in respect of the infringement whether any other relief is granted under this section or not.
(3)Where in an action under this section an infringement of copyright is proved or admitted, and the court having regard, in addition to all other material considerations, to—
(a)the flagrancy of the infringement; and
(b)any benefit shown to have accrued to the defendant by reason of the infringement,
is satisfied that effective relief would not otherwise be available to the plaintiff, the court shall in assessing damages for the infringement have power to award such additional damages as the court may deem fit.
(4)In an action for infringement of copyright in respect of the construction of a building, no interdict or other order shall be made—
(a)after the construction of the building has been begun so as to prevent it from being completed; or
(b)so as to require the building, in so far as it has been constructed, to be demolished.

25. Rights of action and remedies of exclusive licensee and exclusive sub-licensee

An exclusive licensee and an exclusive sub-licensee shall have the same rights of action and be entitled to the same remedies as if the licence were an assignment, and those rights and remedies shall be concurrent with the rights and remedies of the owner of the copyright under which the licence and sub-licence were granted.[section 25 substituted by section 1 of Act 39 of 1986]

26. Onus of proof in actions

(1)Where in the case of a literary, musical or artistic work a name purporting to be that of the author appeared on copies of the work as published or, in the case of an artistic work, appeared on the work when it was made, the person whose name so appeared shall, if it was his true name or a name by which he was commonly known, in any action brought by virtue of this Chapter be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the author of the work.
(2)In the case of a work alleged to be a work of joint authorship, subsection (1) shall apply in relation to each person alleged to be one of the authors of the work as if references in that subsection to the author were references to one of the authors.
(3)Where in an action brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to a literary, musical or artistic work which is anonymous or pseudonymous it is established—
(a)that the work was first published in the Republic and was so published within the period of fifty years ending with the beginning of the calendar year in which the action was brought; and
(b)that a name purporting to be that of the publisher appeared on copies of the work as first published,
then, unless the contrary is shown, copyright shall be presumed to subsist in the work and the person whose name so appeared shall be presumed to have been the owner of that copyright at the time of the publication: Provided that this subsection shall not apply if the actual name of the author of a pseudonymous work is commonly known.
(4)Where in an action brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to a literary, musical or artistic work it is proved or admitted that the author of the work is dead, the work shall be presumed to be an original work unless the contrary is proved.
(5)Subsection (4) shall also apply where a work has been published and—
(a)the publication was anonymous or under a name alleged by the plaintiff to have been a pseudonym; and
(b)it is not shown that the work has ever been published under the true name of the author or under a name by which he was commonly known or that it is possible for a person without previous knowledge of the facts to ascertain the identity of the author by reasonable inquiry.
(6)Where in an action brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to copyright in a cinematograph film it is proved that the name purporting to be the name of the author of that film appears thereon in the prescribed manner, the person whose name so appears shall be presumed to be the author of that film, unless the contrary is proved.
(7)Where in an action brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to copyright in a sound recording it is proved that records embodying that recording or part thereof have been issued to the public and that at the time when those records were so issued they bore a label or other mark comprising any one or more of the following statements, that is to say—
(a)that a person named on the label or mark was the author of the sound recording;
(b)that the recording was first published in a year specified on the label or mark; or
(c)that the recording was first published in a country specified on the label or mark,
that label or mark shall be sufficient evidence of the facts so stated except in so far as the contrary is proved.
(8)[subsection (8) added by section 3 of Act 66 of 1983 and deleted by section 3(1) of Act 13 of 1988]
(9)In any civil or criminal proceedings by virtue of this Chapter with regard to the alleged infringement of the copyright in a cinematograph film registered in terms of the Registration of Copyright in Cinematograph Films Act, 1977 (Act No. 62 of 1977), it shall be presumed—
(a)that every party to those proceedings had knowledge of the particulars entered in the register of copyright mentioned in section 15 of the said Act from the date of the lodging of the application in question to record those particulars;
(b)that the person who is alleged to have done an act which infringes the relevant copyright did that act without the required authority, unless the contrary is proved.
[subsection (9) added by section 10 of Act 52 of 1984]
(10)In any civil or criminal proceedings by virtue of this Chapter with regard to the alleged infringement of the copyright in a cinematograph film, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that any person trading in the selling, letting or distribution of copies of cinematograph films and who was found in possession of a reproduction or adaptation of such a cinematograph film, sold or let for hire or by way of trade offered or exposed for sale or hire such reproduction or adaptation.[subsection (10) added by section 10 of Act 52 of 1984]

27. Penalties and proceedings in respect of dealings which infringe copyright

(1)Any person who at a time when copyright subsists in a work, without the authority of the owner of the copyright—
(a)makes for sale or hire;
(b)sells or lets for hire or by way of trade offers or exposes for sale or hire;
(c)by way of trade exhibits in public;
(d)imports into the Republic otherwise than for his private or domestic use;
(e)distributes for purposes of trade; or
(f)distributes for any other purposes to such an extent that the owner of the copyright is prejudicially affected,
articles which he knows to be infringing copies of the work, shall be guilty of an offence.[subsection (1) substituted by section 11(a) of Act 52 of 1984 and by section 3 of Act 61 of 1989]
(2)Any person who at a time when copyright subsists in a work makes or has in his possession a plate knowing that it is to be used for making infringing copies of the work, shall be guilty of an offence.
(3)Any person who causes a literary of musical work to be performed in public knowing that copyright subsists in the work and that performance constitutes an infringement of the copyright, shall be guilty of an offence.
(4)Any person who causes a broadcast to be rebroadcast or transmitted in a diffusion service knowing that copyright subsists in the broadcast and that such rebroadcast or transmission constitutes an infringement of the copyright, shall be guilty of an offence.
(5)Any person who causes programme-carrying signals to be distributed by a distributor for whom they were not intended knowing that copyright subsists in the signals and that such distribution constitutes an infringement of the copyright, shall be guilty of an offence.
(6)A person convicted of an offence under subsection (1) shall be liable—
(a)in the case of a first conviction, to a fine not exceeding five thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three years or to both such fine and such imprisonment, for each article to which the offence relates;
(b)in any other case, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or to both such fine and such imprisonment, for each article to which the offence relates:
Provided that the total fine or the total period of imprisonment imposed by virtue of this subsection shall not exceed fifty thousand rand or ten years, as the case may be, in respect of articles comprised in the same transaction.[subsection (6) substituted by section 11(b) of Act 52 of 1984]
(7)A person convicted of an offence under subsection (2), (3), (4) or (5), shall be liable—
(a)in the case of a first conviction, to a fine not exceeding one thousand rand;
(b)in any other case, to a fine not exceeding one thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year.
(8)
(a)In the case of a conviction of a person of an offence in terms of subsecton (1) in respect of the copyright in a cinematograph film the court may in its discretion, in addition to any other penalty which it may impose under subsection (6), prohibit that person from a date and for a period determined by the court, from carrying on, or having any direct or indirect financial interest in, or deriving any direct or indirect financial benefit from any business which sells, lets, offers, exposes or distributes reproductions or adaptations of cinematograph films
(b)Any person who commits an act contrary to a prohibition contemplated in paragraph (a), shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding ten thousand rand or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years.
[subsection (8) added by section 11(b) of Act 52 of 1984]

28. Provision for restricting importation of copies

(1)The owner of the copyright in any published literary or musical work or any published cinematograph film, any sound recording or any published edition may give notice in writing to the Commissioner for Customs and Excise (in this section referred to as 'the Commissioner')—
(a)that he is the owner of the copyright in the work; and
(b)that he requests the Commissioner to treat as prohibited goods, during a period specified in the notice, copies of the work to which this section applies:
Provided that the period specified in a notice under this subsection shall not extend beyond the end of the period for which the copyright is to subsist: Provided further that the Commissioner shall not be bound to act in terms of any such notice unless the owner of the copyright furnishes him with security in such form and for such amount as he may require to secure the fulfilment of any liability and the payment of any expense which he may incur by reason of the detention by him of any copy of the work to which the notice relates or as a result of anything done by him in relation to a copy so detained.
(2)This section shall apply to any copy of the work in question made outside the Republic which if it had been made in the Republic would be an infringing copy of the work.
(3)Where a notice has been given under this section in respect of a work and has not been withdrawn, the importation into the Republic at a time before the end of the period specified in the notice of any copy of the work to which this section applies shall be prohibited.
(4)Notwithstanding anything contained in the Customs and Excise Act, 1964 (Act No. 91 of 1964), a person shall not be liable to any penalty under that Act (other than forfeiture of the goods) by reason of the fact that any goods are treated as prohibited goods by virtue of this section.
(5)This section shall mutatis mutandis apply with reference to an exclusive licensee who has the right to import into the Republic any literary or musical work or any cinematograph film, sound recording or published edition published elsewhere.
[section 28 substituted by section 12 of Act 52 of 1984]

Chapter 3
Copyright Tribunal

29. Establishment of Copyright Tribunal

(1)The judge or acting judge who is from time to time designated as Commissioner of Patents in terms of section 8 of the Patents Act, 1978, shall also be the Copyright Tribunal (in this Chapter referred to as the tribunal) for the purposes of this Act.
(2)The tribunal may order that the costs or expenses of any proceedings before it incurred by any party shall be paid by any other, party, and may tax or settle the amount of any costs or expenses to be paid under any such order or direct in what manner they are to be taxed.
(3)
(a)Regulations may be prescribed as to the procedure in connection with the making of references and applications to the tribunal and for regulating proceedings before the tribunal and as to the fees chargeable in respect of those proceedings.
(b)Any such regulations may in relation to proceedings before the tribunal apply any of the provisions of the Arbitration Act, 1965 (Act No. 42 of 1965), or alternatively, any of the provisions applicable in the court of the Commissioner of Patents in terms of the Patents Act, 1978.
(c)Any such regulations may include provision for—
(i)requiring notice of any intended application to the court under section 36 to be given to the tribunal and to the other parties to the proceedings;
(ii)suspending or authorizing or requiring the tribunal to suspend the operation of orders of the tribunal in cases where after giving its decision an application under section 36 to any provincial division of the Supreme Court is noted;
(iii)modifying in relation to orders of the tribunal, of which the operation is suspended, the operation of any provisions of this Chapter as to the effect of orders made thereunder;
(iv)the publication of notices or the taking of any other steps for ensuring that persons affected by the suspension of an order of the tribunal will be informed of its suspension;
(v)for regulating or prescribing any other matters incidental to or consequential upon any request, application, order or decision under section 36.
(4)Without prejudice to any method available by law for the proof of orders of the tribunal, a document purporting to be a copy of any such order and to be certified by the Registrar to be a true copy thereof shall in any legal proceedings be sufficient evidence of the order unless the contrary is proved.
(5)The Registrar shall act as the registrar of the tribunal.

30. General provisions as to jurisdiction of tribunal

Subject to the provisions of this Chapter, the function of the tribunal shall be to determine disputes arising between licensing bodies and persons requiring licences or organizations claiming to be representative of such persons, either—
(a)on the reference of a licence scheme to the tribunal; or
(b)on the application of a person requiring a licence either in accordance with a licence scheme or in a case not covered by a licence scheme.

31. Reference of licence schemes to tribunal

(1)Where at any time while a licence scheme is in operation a dispute arises with respect to the scheme between the licensing body operating the scheme and—
(a)an organization claiming to be representative of persons requiring licences in cases of a class to which the scheme applies; or
(b)any person claiming that he requires a licence in a case of a class to which the scheme applies,
the organization or person in question may refer the scheme to the tribunal in so far as it relates to cases of that class.
(2)The parties to a reference under this section shall be—
(a)the organization or person at whose instance the reference is made;
(b)the licensing body operating the scheme to which the reference relates; and
(c)such other organizations or persons (if any) as apply to the tribunal to be made parties to the reference and are in accordance with subsection (3) made parties thereto.
(3)Where an organization (whether claiming to be representative of persons requiring licences or not) or a person (whether requiring a licence or not) applies to the tribunal to be made a party to a reference, and the tribunal is satisfied that the organization or person has a substantial interest in the matter in dispute, the tribunal may, if it thinks fit, make that organization or person a party to the reference.
(4)The tribunal shall not entertain a reference under this section by an organization unless the tribunal is satisfied that the organization is reasonably representative of the class of persons which it claims to represent.
(5)Subject to the provisions of subsection (4), the tribunal shall on any reference under this section consider the matter in dispute and after giving the parties to the reference an opportunity of presenting their respective cases, make such order, either confirming or varying the scheme in so far as it relates to cases of the class to which the reference relates, as the tribunal may determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.
(6)An order of the tribunal under this section may, notwithstanding anything contained in the licence scheme to which it relates, be made so as to be in force either indefinitely or for such period as the tribunal may determine.
(7)Where the tribunal has made an order in respect of a licence scheme which has been referred to it, such scheme shall, notwithstanding anything contained, therein, in so far as it relates to the class of cases in respect of which the order was made, thereafter remain in operation subject to the terms of the order: Provided that this subsection shall not apply in relation to a reference as respects any period after the reference has been withdrawn or has been discharged by virtue of subsection (4).

32. Further reference of scheme to tribunal

(1)Where the tribunal has made an order under section 31 with respect to a licence scheme—
(a)the licensing body operating the scheme;
(b)any organization claiming to be representative of persons requiring licences in cases of the class to which the order applies; or
(c)any person claiming that he requires a licence in a case of that class,
may, subject to the provisions of subsection (2), at any time while the order is in force, again refer the scheme to the tribunal in so far as it relates to cases of the class in respect of which the order applies.
(2)A licence scheme shall not, except with the special leave of the tribunal, again be referred to the tribunal under subsection (1)—
(a)where the relevant order was made so as to be in force indefinitely or for a period exceeding fifteen months, before the expiration of a period of twelve months from the date on which the order was made; or
(b)where such order was made so as to be in force for a period not exceeding fifteen months, at any time more than three months before the date of expiry of the order.
(3)The provisions of section 31 shall mutatis mutandis apply in respect of any reference under this section or any order made thereon, and the tribunal shall have power to make such order on any such reference as it deems just.

33. Applications to tribunal

(1)For the purposes of this Chapter a case shall be taken to be covered by a licence scheme if, in accordance with a licence scheme for the time being in operation, licences would be granted in cases of the class to which that case belongs: Provided that where in accordance with the provisions of a licence scheme—
(a)the licences which would be so granted would be subject to terms and conditions whereby particular matters would be excepted from the licences; and
(b)the case in question relates to one or more matters falling within such an exception,
that case shall be taken not to be covered by the scheme.
(2)Any person who claims that in a case covered by a licence scheme the licensing body operating the scheme has refused or failed to grant him a licence in accordance with the provisions of the scheme or to procure the grant to him of such a licence, may apply to the tribunal for an order under this section.
(3)An application for such an order may also be made by any person who claims that he requires a licence in a case riot covered by a licence scheme, and either—
(a)that a licensing body or person has refused or failed to grant the licence or to procure the grant thereof, and that in the circumstances it is unreasonable that the licence should not be granted; or
(b)that any charges, terms or conditions subject to which a licensing body proposes that the licence should be granted are unreasonable.
(4)Where an organization (whether claiming to be representative of persons requiring licences or not) or a person (whether requiring a licence or not) applies to the tribunal to be made a party to an application under subsection (2) or (3), and the tribunal is satisfied that the organization or person has a substantial interest in the matter in dispute, the tribunal may if it thinks fit make that organization or person a party to the application.
(5)On any application under subsection (2) or (3) the tribunal shall give the applicant and the licensing body in question and every other party to the application an opportunity of presenting his case, and if the tribunal is satisfied that the claim of the applicant is well-founded, it shall make an order declaring that, in respect of the matters specified in the order, the applicant is entitled to a licence on such terms and conditions and subject to the payment of such charges (if any) as the tribunal may—
(a)in the case of an application under subsection (2), determine to be applicable in accordance with the licence scheme; or
(b)in the case of an application under subsection (3), determine to be reasonable in the circumstances.
(6)Any reference in this section to failure to grant or procure the grant of a licence shall be construed as including a reference to a failure to grant it or to procure the grant thereof within a reasonable time after being requested to do so.

34. Diffusion service

In a dispute concerning the transmission of broadcasts in a diffusion service in the Republic, the tribunal shall disallow any claim under this Act—
(a)in the case of broadcasts of the Corporation, to the extent to which the Corporation’s licences under this Act provide for or include such transmission in a diffusion service;
(b)in the case of broadcasts of an organization other than the Corporation, to the extent to which the licences of such other organization provide for or include such transmission in a diffusion service.

35. Effect of orders of tribunal, and supplementary provisions relating thereto

(1)Any person who complies with the conditions of an order made by the tribunal under this Chapter or who has given a satisfactory undertaking to the owner or prospective owner of the copyright to comply with such conditions, shall be deemed to be the holder of a licence under this Act.
(2)In the exercise of its jurisdiction, in respect of licences relating to television broadcasts, the tribunal shall have regard inter alia to any conditions imposed by the promoters of any entertainment or other event which is to be comprised in the broadcasts, and in particular, the tribunal shall not hold a refusal or failure to grant a licence to be unreasonable if it could not have been granted consistently with those conditions.

36. Review of proceedings

(1)Any decision, ruling or order by the tribunal shall be final, but subject to the right of any party, within ninety days after any such decision, ruling or order was given or made or within such further time as the tribunal may allow, to bring the same under review by a full bench of the provincial division of the Supreme Court having jurisdiction.
(2)Any reference in this Chapter to the giving of an opportunity to any person of presenting his case shall be construed as a reference to the giving to that person of an opportunity of submitting representation in writing and of being heard.

Chapter 4
Extension or restriction of operation of Act

37. Application of Act to countries to which it does not extend

(1)The Minister may by notice in the Gazette provide that any provision of this Act specified in the notice shall in the case of any country so specified apply—
(a)in relation to literary, musical or artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings and published editions first published in that country as it applies in relation to literary, musical or artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings and published editions first published in the Republic;[paragraph (a) substituted by section 13 of Act 52 of 1984]
(b)in relation to persons who at a material time are citizens or subjects of that country as it applies in relation to persons who at such a time are South African citizens;
(c)in relation to persons who at a material time are domiciled or resident in that country as it applies in relation to persons who at such a time are domiciled or resident in the Republic;
(d)in relation to bodies incorporated under the laws of that country as it applies in relation to bodies incorporated under the laws of the Republic;
(e)in relation to broadcasts and programme-carrying signals made or emitted to a satellite from places in that country or by one or more organizations constituted by or under the laws of that country as it applies in relation to broadcasts and programme-carrying signals made or emitted to a satellite by the Corporation.
(2)A notice under this section may provide—
(a)that any provisions referred to therein shall apply subject to such exceptions or modifications as may be specified in the notice;
(b)that such provisions shall so apply either generally or in relation to such classes of works or classes of cases as may be so specified.
(3)No notice shall be issued under this section in respect of any country which is not a party to a convention relating to copyright to which the Republic is also a party, unless the Minister is satisfied that, in respect of the class of works to which the notice relates, provision has been or will be made under the laws of that country whereby adequate protection will be given, to owners of copyright under this Act.

38. Extended application of provisions relating to broadcasts and programme-carrying signals

The Minister may make regulations providing that, subject to such exceptions and modifications (if any) as may be specified therein, the provisions of this Act relating to broadcasts made, or programme-carrying signals emitted, to a satellite by the Corporation, shall apply in relation to any other person carrying, out the Republic operations similar to those of the Corporation.

Chapter 5
Miscellaneous provisions

39. Regulations

The Minister may make regulations—
(a)as to any matter required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed by regulation;
(b)in consultation with the Minister of Finance, prescribing the tariff of fees payable in respect of proceedings before the Copyright Tribunal referred to in section 29(1);
(c)in consultation with the Minister of Finance, prescribing the remuneration and allowances of members of the advisory committee referred to in section 40, and of its subcommittees, and the conditions upon which such members shall be appointed; and
(d)generally, as to any matter which he considers it necessary or expedient to prescribe in order that the purposes of this Act may be achieved.

40. Advisory committee

(1)
(a)The Minister shall appoint an advisory committee on copyright law, consisting of a judge or a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa as chairman and such ex officio and other members as the Minister may from time to time determine.
(b)A member of the advisory committee shall hold office for such period as the Minister may direct and shall be eligible for reappointment upon the expiration of his period of office.
(2)The advisory committee shall as to witnesses and their evidence have the powers of a commission under the Commissions Act, 1947 (Act No. 8 of 1947).
(3)The advisiory committee may from time to time make recommendations to the Minister in regard to any amendments to this Act and shall advise the Minister on any matter referred to it by the Minister.
(4)
(a)The advisory committee shall constitute and maintain at all times subcommittees on sound recordings, cinematograph films, broadcasting and such other practices as the Minister may from time to time determine.
(b)The advisory committee shall appoint as members of the subcommittees such of its members and such other persons and for such periods of office as the advisory committee may from time to time determine.
(5)The advisory committee may call to its assistance any person it may deem necessary to assist it with, or to investigate matters relating to, copyright law.
(6)The Registrar shall be responsible for the administration of the advisory committee and the subcommittees.

41. Savings

(1)Nothing in this Act shall affect any right or privilege of the state subsisting otherwise than by virtue of any law, or any right or privilege of the state or of any other person under any law not expressly repealed, amended or modified by this Act.
(2)Nothing in this Act shall affect the right of the state or of any person deriving title from the state to sell, use or otherwise deal with articles forfeited under the laws relating to customs and excise, including any article forfeited by virtue of this Act or of any enactment repealed by this Act.
(3)Nothing in this Act shall affect the operation of any rule of equity relating to breaches of trust or confidence.
(4)Subject to the preceding provisions of this section, no copyright or right in the nature of copyright shall subsist otherwise than by virtue of this Act or of some other enactment in that behalf.

42. Publication

For the purposes of this Act, the following provisions shall apply with respect to publication:
(a)A work shall be taken to have been published if copies have been issued with the consent of the owner of the copyright in sufficient quantities to satisfy the reasonable requirements of the public, having regard to the nature of the work, and, in particular, publication in relation to a cinematograph film shall mean the sale, letting on hire or offer for sale or hire of copies of the film.
(b)Where in the first instance a part only of a work is published, that part shall be treated as a separate work.
(c)A publication in the Republic or in any other country shall not be treated as being other than the first publication by reason only of an earlier publication elsewhere, if the two publications took place within a period of not more than thirty days from one another.
(d)The performance of a dramatic, dramatic-musical or musical work or a cinematograph film, the public delivery of a literary work, the transmission in a diffusion service or the broadcasting of a work, the exhibition of a work of art and the construction of a work of architecture shall not constitute publication.

43. Application to work made before commencement of Act

This Act shall apply in relation to works made before the commencement of this Act as it applies in relation to works made thereafter: Provided that—
(a)subject to the provisions of paragraphs (c) and (d), nothing in this Act contained shall—
(i)affect the ownership, duration or validity of any copyright which subsists under the Copyright Act, 1965 (Act No. 63 of 1965); or
(ii)be construed as creating any copyright which did not subsist prior to 11 September 1965;
[paragraph (a) amended by section 14(a) of Act 52 of 1984]
(b)[paragraph (b) deleted by section 14(b) of Act 52 of 1984]
(c)the copyright in cinematograph films made before the commencement of this Act shall be governed by the relevant provisions of this Act, subject to the qualification, in the case of cinematograph films treated as original dramatic works under section 35 of the Third Schedule to the Designs Act, 1916 (Act No. 9 of 1916)—
(i)that the author shall, if so required, remunerate the person who is the owner of a copyright in that film for the purposes of that Act, which remuneration shall be determined by arbitration if agreement thereon cannot be reached; and
(ii)the author shall indemnify the user against any further claims relating to the copyright in the film.
(d)in the determination of the term of copyright contemplated in the proviso to section 3(2)(a) in the case of a work in respect of which the copyright has expired at the commencement of the Copyright Amendment Act, 1984, on the ground that the period mentioned in the said paragraph has lapsed, it shall be deemed that, subject to any rights acquired by any person after the lapse of that period and before the said commencement, copyright did not expire on that ground.[paragraph (d) added by section 14(c) of Act 52 of 1984]

44. Time when a work is made

For the purposes of this Act a work shall be deemed to have been made at the time when it was first reduced to writing or to some other material form.

45. Regulation and control of circulation, presentation or exhibition of works

(1)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act contained, the Minister may make such regulations as he may consider necessary in regard to the circulation, presentation or exhibition of any work, or production.
(2)Such regulations may empower any person specified therein to prohibit the circulation, presentation or exhibition of any such work or production or to authorize the circulation, presentation or exhibition thereof on such conditions as may be specified in those regulations.
(3)The circulation, presentation or exhibition of any work or production in pursuance of authority granted in terms of such regulations shall not constitute an infringement of copyright in such work or production, but the author shall not thereby be deprived of his right to a reasonable remuneration, which shall in default of agreement be determined by arbitration.

46. Repeal of laws

The laws specified in the Schedule are hereby repealed to the extent set out in the third column of the Schedule: Provided that any proclamation, regulation or rule having effect under any provision so repealed and in force immediately prior to the commencement of this Act, shall continue in force after such commencement and may be repealed, amended or altered as if it had been made under this Act.

47. Short title and commencement

This Act shall be called the Copyright Act, 1978, and shall come into operation on 1 January 1979, except sections 1, 39 and 40, which shall come into operation upon promulgation of this Act in the Gazette, and except section 45, which shall come into operation on a date fixed by the State President by proclamation in the Gazette.

Schedule

No. and year of ActTitleExtent of repeal
Act No. 63 of 1965Copyright Act, 1965The whole, except section 46
Act No. 56 of 1967Copyright Amendment Act, 1967The whole
Act No. 75 of 1972Copyright Amendment Act, 1972The whole
Act No. 64 of 1975Copyright Amendment Act, 1975The whole

History of this document

01 May 2011 amendment not yet applied
Amended by Companies Act, 2008
25 June 2002 amendment not yet applied
01 October 1997 amendment not yet applied
10 July 1992 amendment not yet applied
01 August 1989 amendment not yet applied
01 April 1989 this version
23 March 1988
Read this version
25 September 1987
Read this version
23 April 1986
Read this version
22 June 1984
Commenced
Read this version
17 October 1983
Commenced
Read this version
23 May 1980
Commenced
Read this version
01 January 1979
Commenced
30 June 1978
Commenced
Read this version
20 June 1978
Assented to

Unconstitutional provisions

Legislation provisions that have been declared unconstitutional by a court. They are resolved when new legislation is passed. All unconstitutional provisions →
  • 6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works Unresolved
    Judgment
    Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2022] ZACC 33 (21 September 2022)
    Date deemed unconstitutional
    21 September 2022
    End of suspension period
    21 September 2024

    2. It is declared that sections 6 and 7, read with section 23 of the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, are unconstitutional, invalid and inconsistent with the rights of persons with visual and print disabilities, as set out in sections 9(3), 10, 16(1)(b), 29(1) and 30 of the Constitution, to the extent that these provisions of the Copyright Act limit the access of such persons to published literary works, and artistic works as may be included in such literary works, in accessible format copies.
    …
    6. During the period of suspension referred to in paragraph 5, the Copyright Act shall be deemed to include the following additional provisions:
    [See read-in text]

    Read-in text

    13A. Exceptions applicable to beneficiary persons

    (1)For the purposes of section 13A—
    (a)“accessible format copy” means a copy of a work in an alternative manner or form which gives a beneficiary person access to the work, including to permit the person to have access as feasibly and comfortably as a person without visual impairment or other print disability. The accessible format copy must be used exclusively by beneficiary persons and it must respect the integrity of the original work, taking due consideration of the changes needed to make the work accessible in the alternative format and of the accessibility needs of the beneficiary persons;
    (b)“beneficiary person” means a person who—
    (i)is blind;
    (ii)has a visual impairment or a perceptual or reading disability which cannot be improved to give visual function substantially equivalent to that of a person who has no such impairment or disability and so is unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability; or
    (iii)is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to hold or manipulate a book or to focus or move the eyes to the extent that would normally be acceptable for reading regardless of any other disabilities;
    (c)“literary works” means literary works as defined in section 1 of this Act, and shall be taken to include artistic works forming part of a literary work;
    (d)“permitted entity” means an entity, including a government institution or non-profit organisation, that provides education, instructional training, adaptive reading or information access to beneficiary persons on a non-profit basis, and has the provision of such services as one of its primary activities or institutional obligations.
    (2)A permitted entity may, without the authorisation of the owner of copyright in a literary work, make an accessible format copy of the literary work; obtain from another permitted entity, an accessible format copy, and supply those copies to beneficiary persons by any means, including non-commercial lending or by electronic communication by wire or wireless means, and undertake any intermediate steps to achieve those objectives, provided that all of the following conditions are met—
    (a)the permitted entity wishing to undertake said activity has lawful access to that work or a copy of that work;
    (b)the work is converted to an accessible format copy, which may include any means needed to navigate information in the accessible format, but does not introduce changes other than those needed to make the work accessible to the beneficiary person;
    (c)such accessible format copies are supplied exclusively to be used by beneficiary persons; and
    (d)the activity is undertaken on a non-profit basis.
    (3)A beneficiary person, or someone acting on their behalf, including a primary caretaker or caregiver, may make an accessible format copy of a work for the personal use of the beneficiary person or otherwise may assist the beneficiary person to make and use accessible format copies where the beneficiary person has lawful access to that work or a copy of that work.
    6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works as at 1 April 1989:

    6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works

    Copyright in a literary or musical work vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
    (a)Reproducing the work in any manner or form;
    (b)publishing the work;
    (c)performing the work in public;
    (d)broadcasting the work;
    (e)causing the work to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful broadcast, including the work, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (e) substituted by section 3(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
    (f)making an adaptation of the work;
    (g)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in paragraphs (a) to (e) inclusive.
    [section 6 amended by section 3(a) of Act 56 of 1980]
  • 7. Nature of copyright in artistic works Unresolved
    Judgment
    Blind SA v Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and Others [2022] ZACC 33 (21 September 2022)
    Date deemed unconstitutional
    21 September 2022
    End of suspension period
    21 September 2024

    2. It is declared that sections 6 and 7, read with section 23 of the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, are unconstitutional, invalid and inconsistent with the rights of persons with visual and print disabilities, as set out in sections 9(3), 10, 16(1)(b), 29(1) and 30 of the Constitution, to the extent that these provisions of the Copyright Act limit the access of such persons to published literary works, and artistic works as may be included in such literary works, in accessible format copies.
    …
    6. During the period of suspension referred to in paragraph 5, the Copyright Act shall be deemed to include the following additional provisions:
    [See read-in text]

    Read-in text

    13A. Exceptions applicable to beneficiary persons

    (1)For the purposes of section 13A—
    (a)“accessible format copy” means a copy of a work in an alternative manner or form which gives a beneficiary person access to the work, including to permit the person to have access as feasibly and comfortably as a person without visual impairment or other print disability. The accessible format copy must be used exclusively by beneficiary persons and it must respect the integrity of the original work, taking due consideration of the changes needed to make the work accessible in the alternative format and of the accessibility needs of the beneficiary persons;
    (b)“beneficiary person” means a person who—
    (i)is blind;
    (ii)has a visual impairment or a perceptual or reading disability which cannot be improved to give visual function substantially equivalent to that of a person who has no such impairment or disability and so is unable to read printed works to substantially the same degree as a person without an impairment or disability; or
    (iii)is otherwise unable, through physical disability, to hold or manipulate a book or to focus or move the eyes to the extent that would normally be acceptable for reading regardless of any other disabilities;
    (c)“literary works” means literary works as defined in section 1 of this Act, and shall be taken to include artistic works forming part of a literary work;
    (d)“permitted entity” means an entity, including a government institution or non-profit organisation, that provides education, instructional training, adaptive reading or information access to beneficiary persons on a non-profit basis, and has the provision of such services as one of its primary activities or institutional obligations.
    (2)A permitted entity may, without the authorisation of the owner of copyright in a literary work, make an accessible format copy of the literary work; obtain from another permitted entity, an accessible format copy, and supply those copies to beneficiary persons by any means, including non-commercial lending or by electronic communication by wire or wireless means, and undertake any intermediate steps to achieve those objectives, provided that all of the following conditions are met—
    (a)the permitted entity wishing to undertake said activity has lawful access to that work or a copy of that work;
    (b)the work is converted to an accessible format copy, which may include any means needed to navigate information in the accessible format, but does not introduce changes other than those needed to make the work accessible to the beneficiary person;
    (c)such accessible format copies are supplied exclusively to be used by beneficiary persons; and
    (d)the activity is undertaken on a non-profit basis.
    (3)A beneficiary person, or someone acting on their behalf, including a primary caretaker or caregiver, may make an accessible format copy of a work for the personal use of the beneficiary person or otherwise may assist the beneficiary person to make and use accessible format copies where the beneficiary person has lawful access to that work or a copy of that work.
    7. Nature of copyright in artistic works as at 1 April 1989:

    7. Nature of copyright in artistic works

    Copyright in an artistic work vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
    (a)Reproducing the work in any manner or form;
    (b)publishing the work;
    (c)including the work in a cinematograph film or a television broadcast;
    (d)causing a television or other programme, which includes the work, to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful television broadcast, including the work, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (d) substituted by section 4(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
    (e)making an adaptation of the work;
    (f)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in paragraphs (a) to (d) inclusive.
    [section 7 amended by section 4(a) of Act 56 of 1980]
  • 7. Nature of copyright in artistic works Unresolved
    Judgment
    Blind SA v President of Republic of South Africa and Others (CCT 300/24) [2025] ZACC 9 (7 May 2025)

    2. Pending the coming into force of legislation remedying the constitutional defects in the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 as identified by this Court’s judgment and order of 21 September 2022, the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 shall be deemed to include a section 19D reading as follows:
    [See read-in text]
    3. The reading-in of section 19D shall remain in effect until the remedial legislation contemplated in paragraph 2 comes into force.

    Read-in text

    19D.

    (1)An authorised entity, or any person as may be prescribed and who serves persons with disabilities may, without the authorisation of the copyright owner, make an accessible format copy for the benefit of a person with a disability, supply that accessible format copy to a person with a disability by any means, including by non-commercial lending or by digital communication by wire or wireless means, and undertake any intermediate steps to achieve these objectives, if the following conditions are met:
    (a)The person wishing to undertake any activity under this subsection must have lawful access to the copyright work or a copy of that work;
    (b)in converting the copyright work to an accessible format copy, the integrity of the original work must be respected, taking due consideration of the changes needed to make the work accessible in that alternative format and of the accessibility needs of the persons with a disability; and
    (c)the activity under this subsection must be undertaken on a non-profit basis.
    (2)
    (a)A person to whom the work is communicated by wire or wireless means as a result of an activity under subsection (1) may, without the authorisation of the owner of the copyright work, reproduce the work, where that person is a person—
    (i)with a disability, for their personal use; or
    (ii)who serves persons with disabilities, including an authorised entity, for personal use by a person with a disability.
    (b)The provisions of paragraph (a) are without prejudice to any other limitations or exceptions that the person referred to in that paragraph may enjoy.
    (3)A person with a disability, or someone acting on their behalf, including an authorised entity, may make an accessible format copy of a work for the personal use of the person with a disability or otherwise may assist the person with a disability to make and use accessible format copies where the person with a disability has lawful access to that work or a copy of that work.
    (4)
    (a)A person with a disability or a person who serves persons with disabilities, including an authorised entity, may, without the authorisation of the copyright owner export to, or import from, another country any legal copy of an accessible format copy of a work for distribution, or to make it available to persons with a disability, as long as such activity is undertaken on a non-profit basis by that person.
    (b)A person contemplated in paragraph (a) may not export or import an accessible format copy where such person knows, or has reason to know, that the accessible format copy will be used for purposes other than to aid persons with a disability.
    (5)The exception created by this section is subject to the obligation of indicating the source and the name of the author, if it appears on the work, on any accessible format copy.
    (6)For the purposes of this section 19D—
    (a)“accessible format copy” means a copy of a work in an alternative manner or form, which gives a person with a disability access to the work, including to permit the person to have access as feasibly and comfortably as a person without a disability;
    (b)“authorised entity” means—
    (i)an entity that is authorised or recognised by the government to provide education, instructional training, adaptive reading or information access to persons with a disability on a non-profit basis; or
    (ii)an entity, including a government institution or non-profit organisation that provides education, instructional training, adaptive reading or information access to persons with a disability on a non-profit basis as one of its primary activities or institutional obligations.
    (c)“person with a disability” means a person who has a physical, intellectual, neurological, or sensory impairment and who requires the work to be in a format that enables that person to access and use the work in the same manner as a person without a disability; and
    (d)“commercial” means the obtaining of economic advantage or financial gain in connection with a business or trade.
    7. Nature of copyright in artistic works as at 1 April 1989:

    7. Nature of copyright in artistic works

    Copyright in an artistic work vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
    (a)Reproducing the work in any manner or form;
    (b)publishing the work;
    (c)including the work in a cinematograph film or a television broadcast;
    (d)causing a television or other programme, which includes the work, to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful television broadcast, including the work, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (d) substituted by section 4(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
    (e)making an adaptation of the work;
    (f)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in paragraphs (a) to (d) inclusive.
    [section 7 amended by section 4(a) of Act 56 of 1980]
  • 6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works Unresolved
    Judgment
    Blind SA v President of Republic of South Africa and Others (CCT 300/24) [2025] ZACC 9 (7 May 2025)

    2. Pending the coming into force of legislation remedying the constitutional defects in the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 as identified by this Court’s judgment and order of 21 September 2022, the Copyright Act 98 of 1978 shall be deemed to include a section 19D reading as follows:
    [See read-in text]
    3. The reading-in of section 19D shall remain in effect until the remedial legislation contemplated in paragraph 2 comes into force.

    Read-in text

    19D.

    (1)An authorised entity, or any person as may be prescribed and who serves persons with disabilities may, without the authorisation of the copyright owner, make an accessible format copy for the benefit of a person with a disability, supply that accessible format copy to a person with a disability by any means, including by non-commercial lending or by digital communication by wire or wireless means, and undertake any intermediate steps to achieve these objectives, if the following conditions are met:
    (a)The person wishing to undertake any activity under this subsection must have lawful access to the copyright work or a copy of that work;
    (b)in converting the copyright work to an accessible format copy, the integrity of the original work must be respected, taking due consideration of the changes needed to make the work accessible in that alternative format and of the accessibility needs of the persons with a disability; and
    (c)the activity under this subsection must be undertaken on a non-profit basis.
    (2)
    (a)A person to whom the work is communicated by wire or wireless means as a result of an activity under subsection (1) may, without the authorisation of the owner of the copyright work, reproduce the work, where that person is a person—
    (i)with a disability, for their personal use; or
    (ii)who serves persons with disabilities, including an authorised entity, for personal use by a person with a disability.
    (b)The provisions of paragraph (a) are without prejudice to any other limitations or exceptions that the person referred to in that paragraph may enjoy.
    (3)A person with a disability, or someone acting on their behalf, including an authorised entity, may make an accessible format copy of a work for the personal use of the person with a disability or otherwise may assist the person with a disability to make and use accessible format copies where the person with a disability has lawful access to that work or a copy of that work.
    (4)
    (a)A person with a disability or a person who serves persons with disabilities, including an authorised entity, may, without the authorisation of the copyright owner export to, or import from, another country any legal copy of an accessible format copy of a work for distribution, or to make it available to persons with a disability, as long as such activity is undertaken on a non-profit basis by that person.
    (b)A person contemplated in paragraph (a) may not export or import an accessible format copy where such person knows, or has reason to know, that the accessible format copy will be used for purposes other than to aid persons with a disability.
    (5)The exception created by this section is subject to the obligation of indicating the source and the name of the author, if it appears on the work, on any accessible format copy.
    (6)For the purposes of this section 19D—
    (a)“accessible format copy” means a copy of a work in an alternative manner or form, which gives a person with a disability access to the work, including to permit the person to have access as feasibly and comfortably as a person without a disability;
    (b)“authorised entity” means—
    (i)an entity that is authorised or recognised by the government to provide education, instructional training, adaptive reading or information access to persons with a disability on a non-profit basis; or
    (ii)an entity, including a government institution or non-profit organisation that provides education, instructional training, adaptive reading or information access to persons with a disability on a non-profit basis as one of its primary activities or institutional obligations.
    (c)“person with a disability” means a person who has a physical, intellectual, neurological, or sensory impairment and who requires the work to be in a format that enables that person to access and use the work in the same manner as a person without a disability; and
    (d)“commercial” means the obtaining of economic advantage or financial gain in connection with a business or trade.
    6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works as at 1 April 1989:

    6. Nature of copyright in literary or musical works

    Copyright in a literary or musical work vests the exclusive right to do or to authorize the doing of any of the following acts in the Republic:
    (a)Reproducing the work in any manner or form;
    (b)publishing the work;
    (c)performing the work in public;
    (d)broadcasting the work;
    (e)causing the work to be transmitted in a diffusion service, unless such service transmits a lawful broadcast, including the work, and is operated by the original broadcaster;[paragraph (e) substituted by section 3(b) of Act 56 of 1980]
    (f)making an adaptation of the work;
    (g)doing, in relation to an adaptation of the work, any of the acts specified in relation to the work in paragraphs (a) to (e) inclusive.
    [section 6 amended by section 3(a) of Act 56 of 1980]

Uncommenced provisions

Legislation provisions that have not yet come into force. All uncommenced provisions →
  • 45. Regulation and control of circulation, presentation or exhibition of works

    45. Regulation and control of circulation, presentation or exhibition of works

    (1)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act contained, the Minister may make such regulations as he may consider necessary in regard to the circulation, presentation or exhibition of any work, or production.
    (2)Such regulations may empower any person specified therein to prohibit the circulation, presentation or exhibition of any such work or production or to authorize the circulation, presentation or exhibition thereof on such conditions as may be specified in those regulations.
    (3)The circulation, presentation or exhibition of any work or production in pursuance of authority granted in terms of such regulations shall not constitute an infringement of copyright in such work or production, but the author shall not thereby be deprived of his right to a reasonable remuneration, which shall in default of agreement be determined by arbitration.

Subsidiary legislation

Title
Copyright Regulations: Amendment Correction
Business, Trade and Industry
Government Notice R1375 of 1985
Copyright Regulations: Amendment
Business, Trade and Industry
Government Notice R1211 of 1985
Copyright Regulations, 1978
Business, Trade and Industry
Government Notice R2530 of 1978
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