The Copyright Amendment Bill: A New Vista for Fair Remuneration for South African Creators and Performers?

The article focuses on the South African Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB), passed by parliament on 29 February 2024, which aims to enhance fair remuneration for creators and performers in South Africa’s creative industries. Key provisions analyzed include equitable remuneration and fair share of royalties for literary, musical, artistic, and audio-visual works; the introduction of artists’ resale royalty rights; reversionary rights allowing creators to regain assigned copyrights after 25 years; licensing mechanisms for orphan works; and strengthened regulation and accreditation of collective management organisations (CMOs). The CAB establishes dispute resolution through the Copyright Tribunal and mandates transparency and accountability measures for CMOs and users of copyrighted works. If enacted, the CAB seeks to address historical inequities and improve the economic and social wellbeing of South African creators and performers.