The Southern African Freelancers’ Association (SAFREA) advocates
for and supports freelance workers in the communications fields. It also provides
resources, tools, training and networking to strengthen freelance careers.
SAFREA has extended its support to lobbying efforts from the
Academic and Non-Fiction Authors in South Africa (ANFASA) and the South African
Guild of Actors (SAGA) regarding concerns about the new Copyright Amendment
Bill, submitted to parliament today.
“The effects of the bill on freelancers and all professionals
seeking copyright freedoms are immeasurable at this point, but are concerning
to say the least,” says SAFREA Chair Laura Rawden.
As an association that advocates for and supports the rights of
its members, all of whom are media freelancers, SAFREA appeals to the
Parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Trade and Industry to consider the
unsatisfactory aspects of this bill. Specifically, the use of unauthorised
copies and lack of royalties delivered to authors from the sale and licensing
of their books. This has a direct and negative impact on writers, journalists,
editors, newspapers, filmmakers, news writers and scholarly authors.
For actors, concerns are centred on an individual's right to
their own image. “The lack of this protection in South Africa underpins many of
the exploitative practices currently driving our local television and film
industry,” says SAGA Vice Chair Adrian Galley.
Senior members Geof Kirby and Gareth Griffiths engaged with the
bill on behalf of SAFREA when issues pertaining to members’ rights and best
interests were initially raised in 2015. Kirby remains involved regarding
photographer-specific copyright issues. SAFREA hopes all these voices will be
heard and understood. “We need to stand in solidarity on this,” says Rawden.
For information on the SAFREA engagement
visit http://safrea.co.za/news/52-Safreas_response_to_the_Copyright_Act_Amendment
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