What is Copyright?
A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy and distribute a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, educational, or musical form.
How To Register For Copyright In South Africa?
Copyright is secured automatically when you create an original work that people can see or hear such as a book, painting or music. Most works eligible for copyright protection do not require registration or other formalities, except for cinematograph films.
You can create your own copyright by putting the words “copyright” or “copyright reserved” or the internationally recognised copyright symbol followed by your name and the year e.g. © Baloyi 2011 on your original work.
However, if you want to have a copyright in a film, DVD or video(link is external), you must apply to the Registrar of Copyright on prescribed forms.
Find out more about copyright from the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)(link is external) or contact CIPC on 086 100 2472.
Copyright Protection Term
Literary, Musical or Artistic Works – copyright exists for the life of the author plus 50 years following death, calculated from the end of the year the author died in or 50 years from the date of first publication, performance in public, offering for sale of records thereof or the broadcasting thereof , whichever is later.
Films and Photographs – 50 years from the end of the year in which the work is made publicly available, or the end of the year in which the work is first published, whichever is longer, or fifty years from the end of the year in which the work is made
Sound Recordings – 50 years from the end of the year in which the recording is first published
Broadcasts – 50 years from the end of the year in which the broadcast first takes place
Programme-carrying Signals – 50 years from the end of the year in which the signals are emitted to a satellite
Published Editions – 50 years from the end of the year in which the edition is published
How much is it to register a copyright in South Africa?
There is no such thing as copyright registration in South Africa. Copyright arises automatically and is free.
How long does it take to copyright in South Africa?
50 years
In South Africa the term of copyright is 50 years from the end of the year in which the work was first made or in which the author dies or is presumed to have died. Only once the copyright expires does the work fall into the public domain.
How do I register a copyright name?
Here’s how you can apply for trademark:
Decide on your unique brand name and logo.
Conduct an online search.
Fill-in the trademark application.
Filing for the brand name registration application.
Scrutinizing of your brand name registration application.
Publication in Indian Trade Mark Journals.
How do you copyright a logo in South Africa?
To trademark a word, the process will be the same through SwiftReg. Any submission, be it a word, slogan or logo the application will be the same.
You will apply for the word trademark application online and select the class that you would like the word trademark protected under.
Is registration of copyright compulsory?
Ans: No. Acquisition of copyright is automatic and it does not require any formality. Copyright comes into existence as soon as a work is created and no formality is required to be completed for acquiring copyright.