Its more fun staying on the right side of the publications laws!
Copyright is a 'bundle' of exclusive rights, given to authors and creators, to protect their original works (i.e. literary, musical and artistic works, cinematograph films, sound recordings, published editions and computer software). It is not the 'right' of the user to copy!
Authors and creators have these exclusive rights in terms of the SA Copyright Act No. 98 of 1978 (as amended):-
(These activities also apply to adaptations)
Copyright provides an incentive for creativity and a means of financial compensation for authors and creators of intellectual property.
To have copyright protection, a work must be in a material format.
Ideas do not have copyright protection - only the expression of those ideas is protected.
There is no copyright in facts, the news of the day, or in political speeches. Authors however, have the exclusive right to make a collection of their speeches.
For expert direction on Copyright Issues, kindly refer to:
Mrs Denise Nicholson
Email:denise.nicholson@wits.ac.za