SECTION27’s submission to the Department of Trade and Industry on the Copyright Amendment Bill 2015
SECTION27’s primary interest in intellectual property policy and law reform flows from its understanding of the manner and extent to which patent protection has been used to undermine access to medicines. As part of the “Fix the Patent Laws” campaign with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), SECTION27 has worked for many years to limit the negative impact of intellectual property on public health. However, the contents of the Amendment Bill also have a profound impact on the accessibility of learning and other reading materials for people and children with print disabilities.
SECTION27 made a submission to the Department of Trade and Industry (“DTI”) on the Copyright Amendment Bill 2015 (“Amendment Bill”). For an overview of SECTION27’s recommendations, see the “Summary of Key Recommendations” in the submission.
SECTION27’s primary interest in intellectual property policy and law reform flows from its understanding of the manner and extent to which patent protection has been used to undermine access to medicines. As part of the “Fix the Patent Laws” campaign with MSF and the TAC, SECTION27 has worked for many years to limit the negative impact of intellectual property on public health. However, the contents of the Amendment Bill also have a profound impact on the accessibility of learning and other reading materials for people and children with print disabilities.
SECTION27 welcomed the release of the Amendment Bill. The Amendment Bill provided an opportunity to bring to the attention of the DTI aspects of copyright law reform which have relevance to or an impact on access to medicines and patent law reform as well as access to reading and learning material protected by copyright for people and children with print disabilities.
Aspects of this Amendment Bill also form part of the Draft National Intellectual Property Policy (“NIPP”). SECTION27 urged the DTI to finalise the NIPP in order to ensure a streamlined law reform process.
SECTION27 SUBMISSION ON COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL 2015
A group of academics from South Africa and the USA have also submitted comments on the South African Copyright Amendment Bill.
ACADEMIC COMMENTS ON COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL 2015 – TABLE
ACADEMIC COMMENTS ON COPYRIGHT AMENDMENT BILL 2015 – COVER LETTER
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