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10 Sep 2010

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will launch an anti-piracy campaign and host an Intellectual Property workshop on 15 to 16 September 2010 at Birchwood Hotel, Boksburg, Johannesburg. The Deputy Minister of the dti, Thandi Tobias-Pokolo will deliver a keynote address.

The purpose of the campaign and workshop is to mobilise the public about the negative impact of piracy and urge them to adopt an anti-piracy attitude. It is also intended to educate and create awareness about the interventions contained in the existing legal framework, the Copyright Act and related matters, which can assist and empower artists.

The event is a result of a meeting between Deputy Minister Tobias-Pokolo and the creative industry where industry members expressed their challenges and concerns regarding:

• Collection and distribution of royalties? Piracy and copyright mismanagement? Insufficient government support in addressing their challenges
• Ineffective and inefficient existing legislation “The South African creative industry is one of the key strategic industries, and has the potential to create meaningful economic opportunities to various types of artists. The industry has over the years experienced serious challenges that have made it impossible for artists to grow and make a meaningful contribution to the country’s economy,” said Deputy Minister Tobias-Pokolo.

According to the Deputy Minister, the dti commits to do its part to help the sector to formalise.

“This could be done through assigning companies to register through our cooperatives and incentive programs administered by the dti in order to promote fair economic opportunities for the industry”.

The campaign to be launched next week will be rolled out nationally through multimedia platform and activations across all provinces.

To enable the dti to fully appreciate and address the challenges and concerns raised, the Minister is in the process of establishing a review Commission which will assess the inefficiencies pertaining to the distribution of royalties and all matters connected thereto, and provide a report with recommendations. Meanwhile, members of the public are invited to submit applications and nominations of five suitable members to serve at the Review Commission that will be established in due course.

The commission will conduct assessment of the existing legal framework regulating efficient collection and distribution of royalties to be paid to artists, musicians, performers and composers and advise on the gaps that exist.

Submission of applications and nominations can be directed to Ms Mukona Mphidi at 012 394 1629, e-mail: mmphidi@thedti.gov.za or fax 012 394 2629.

For more information contact:
Sidwell Moloantoa Medupe
Tel: 012 394 1750
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za

Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
10 Sep 2010

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