Tag: Copyright Act

In the last decade or two, there have been significant advances in cloud computing, the provision of software-implemented services (Software-as-a-Service or SaaS) and web-based applications. These offerings rely on software that runs on a remote server and are accessed by users from their own computer, via a network connection (rather than being locally installed on the internal memory of a user’s computer).

South African intellectual property (IP) legislation includes the Trademarks Act, Patents Act, Designs Act, Copyright Act and Plant Breeder's Rights Act. Each piece of legislation dealing with the particular IP right concerned, but is it all fit for purpose? 

In March 2022, the Department of Communications, through ICASA, began auctioning off available spectrum to bidders, largely telecoms corporations. This auction netted more than R14 billion for the national fiscus and will hasten the roll-out of critical digital connectivity across the country while creating numerous job opportunities, particularly within the media and film industry.

Tourism Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu has faced criticism after the publication on 7 January 2022 of her opinion piece entitled 'Hi Mzansi, have we seen justice' in which she criticised the South African judiciary, amongst others. She was accused of committing plagiarism as it was claimed that a large section of her opinion piece incorporated parts of a speech given by former United Kingdom Attorney-General, Dominic Grieve in 2013.

Virtual reality has been on the rise in the past years and is a growing and dynamic area of technological advancement and development. In 2020, through necessity, many of us have found ourselves conducting various aspects of our lives, everything from business meetings to birthday parties, through virtual platforms.