Representatives from prominent global author and publisher organizations, including IAF, IFRRO, IPA, and STM, have issued a joint statement urging members of the National Assembly in South Africa to refrain from passing the Copyright Amendment Bill during the scheduled vote on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
The bill, long a contentious piece of legislation, has brought together the book ecosystem in the country. The above organisations view it as poorly constructed and poses a major threat to South African literary diversity and the production of educational content.
IAF has criticised the proposed reforms to the Copyright Amendment Bill which would have the unintended consequences of harming the livelihoods of creators and undermining the
creative industries of South Africa.
Read the full statement here.