Calling all creatives in SA !!!

Sitting on the fence is no longer an option!
The copyright Amendment Bills are now on President Ramaphosa’s desk for his final signature. This is your last opportunity to make your voice heard. Sign this petition and plead with the President not to sign this Bill in its current form. We now have over 7000 signatures and the numbers are growing every day.  Our voices can no longer be muted!

We, the undersigned members of the Copyright Coalition of South Africa (CCSA) and concerned citizens, urgently call upon the President to reconsider and amend the current Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) to better protect the rights of Creatives and safeguard the South African creative industry.

The current provisions of the Copyright Bill, particularly the introduction of a 'fair use' provision, pose a significant threat to the livelihoods of content creators across various sectors, including film, music, literature, and publishing. 
While we acknowledge the importance of promoting access to information and fostering innovation, these goals must not come at the expense of undermining the fundamental rights of creators to control and benefit from their work.  Copyright law should strike a fair balance, but this bill does not.  It will cause long-term harm to the very people it claims to protect
The proposed limitation on copyright duration to 25 years is deeply concerning, as it could severely diminish the long-term earning potential of content creators, discouraging future investment in creative endeavors and hindering the growth of the industry. Additionally, the burdensome reporting and registration requirements imposed by the bill place undue administrative burdens on creators and service providers, diverting resources away from content creation and towards compliance efforts.

Furthermore, the provision allowing for a 'contract override' undermines the autonomy and bargaining power of creators, jeopardizing their ability to negotiate fair and equitable terms with publishers and other stakeholders. This threatens to weaken the local creative ecosystem and diminish opportunities for collaboration and innovation within the industry.
     
We believe that it is imperative for the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with all stakeholders, including creators, industry representatives, and legal experts, to address the shortcomings of the current bill and ensure that any amendments are in the best interests of the South African creative community as a whole.

Therefore, we respectfully urge President Cyril Ramaphosa to reconsider the provisions of the Copyright Amendment Bill and make the necessary amendments to safeguard the rights of content creators, promote innovation, and foster a thriving and sustainable creative industry in South Africa.

It for this reason that we call every South African creative to ACT NOW and sign this petition to urge the President to protect the future of the creative industry by rejecting the Copyright Amendment Bill.

With 7000 signatures the numbers are growing every day.  Our voices can no longer be muted!