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ARTICLE · 08 OCTOBER 2020

Copyright Protection Explained

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Copyright protection and the laws surrounding copyright infringement are governed by the Copyright Act of 1978.

South AfricaIntellectual Property
Adams & Adams
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Copyright protection and the laws surrounding copyright infringement are governed by the Copyright Act of 1978. Copyright is the legal protection of certain classes of original work. The owner of the copyright is given the exclusive right to utilise their original work as they choose, with sole authority to permit others to use it.

Copyright Act Categories

The classes of original work that constitute the right to be protected by copyright in South Africa include:

  • Literary works including novels, stories, poetry, and other written works such as textbooks, reports, articles etc. These can also include original speeches, lectures, and sermons.
  • Auditory works including songs, sound recordings, broadcasted music, musical works etc.

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