Technological protection measures : South Africa goes overboard; overbroad
Date
2006
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Publisher
Southern African Journal of Information and Communication (SAJIC), The Edge Institute / Research ICT Africa, Braamfontein, ZA
Abstract
In the digital world, technological protection measures (TPMs) are increasingly used by authors to safeguard against
copyright infringement. TPMs mainly control access to copyright works and/or the use of such works (for example, by limiting copying
of these works). The international framework for protection against the circumvention of TPMs is found in the WIPO Copyright Treaty
(WCT) of 1996. This article examines this framework, and how the international obligations have been discharged in the United States
and Europe. In this context the extent of the protection, and possible exceptions and limitations, are considered. It is noted that
overbroad protection would be particularly prejudicial to research and education in developing countries, and in this way would deny
them the benefits of access to information and learning through global information networks. Finally, the position in South Africa is
considered with reference to the Electronic Communications and Transactions (ECT) Act of 2002, which adopts a level of protection far
stricter than that adopted in any of the developed countries surveyed.
Description
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Journal Article (peer-reviewed)
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Keywords
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, COPYRIGHT, LEGISLATION, REGULATIONS, ACCESS TO INFORMATION, ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING, SOUTH AFRICA