Department of Mercantile Law

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Browsing Department of Mercantile Law by browse.metadata.advisor "Dean, Owen Henry"

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    Copyright : rebalancing the public and private interests in the areas of education and research
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12) Wang, Jia; Dean, Owen Henry; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Mercantile Law.
    The general public should have wide access to copyrighted materials for education and research. However, since the current copyright law system subtly favors copyright holders, it is time to re-evaluate copyright law to ensure it meets its original purpose of promoting the learning of the society. The research primarily focuses on how to broaden copyright limitations and exceptions for the public to access and use learning materials. Within the framework of the copyright law system, other mechanisms that allow users to access copyrighted materials at a reasonable price also are considered. Such mechanisms include an efficient collective copyright management system and various licensing schemes. In an information network environment, it is time for developing countries to reform copyright law in order to promote education and research. It is hoped the findings of this study not only benefit South Africa and People's Republic of China, but also provide insights and guidelines to other developing countries with similar conditions.
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    How to copy a song with impunity : a legal perspective on copyright infringement cases for musical works
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-03) Rogowski, Adrian; Dean, Owen Henry; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Department of Mercantile law
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Music has, and continues to play, an important role in society. It is therefore natural that more music composers enter the scene to capitalize upon this role that music has in society. It is however becoming more common place for music composers to start copying each other, either directly or indirectly. Fortunately, copyright laws have been developed to further protect the rights enjoyed by copyright holders, such as music composers, and these laws essentially protect the composers from the unlawful reproduction of their original music. Copying is, to some degree, inevitable, therefore, the question asked by this paper is to what extent is someone entitled to ‘copy’ from another person without it amounting to copyright infringement. In determining if there is copyright infringement, two tests must be applied and satisfied, namely, the causal connection test, and the substantial similarity test. Causal connection is usually met by establishing whether the alleged infringer had access to the original work. The substantial similarity test is the focus of this paper. The courts rely on this test to determine if that part which was reproduced from the original work is of substance i.e. if it is a part of the work which attributes uniqueness and quality to the original song. Of course, this test is notoriously difficult to understand and apply, hence the need for this paper to address the question on when there is substantial similarity in two works. This paper is of benefit to academics, authors (musicians) and lawyers, as not only is the substantial similarity test discussed from a theoretical point of view, but the question of when something is substantially similar is answered from a pragmatic point of view. It is hoped that this paper is used as a guideline in understanding and applying the substantial similarity test in music copyright infringement cases.
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    Open-source software and the rationale for copyright protection of computer programs
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-03) Karjiker, Sadulla; Dean, Owen Henry; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Law. Dept. of Mercantile Law.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The rationale for the legal protection of copyright works is based on the perceived need to encourage the creation of works which are considered to be socially beneficial. By awarding authors proprietary rights in their creations, copyright law allows authors the ability to earn direct financial returns from their efforts, and, thus, copyright law provides the required incentives for authors to create copyright works. Since the early days of commercial software development, copyright protection has been extended to computer programs; thus, by providing such protection it was assumed that their production should be encouraged, and that without such protection they will not be produced to the extent required by society. Comparatively recently, we have witnessed large-scale production of open-source software, which is licensed on generous terms, giving users the right to freely use, modify and redistribute such software. By adopting such licensing terms, the authors of open-source software are unable to charge licensees a fee for permission to use their software, which is the reward which copyright assumes authors seek to create such software. This development has made it necessary to re-evaluate the rationale for copyright protection of computer programs, and determine whether the continued protection of computer programs is justifiable. This study seeks to first establish a coherent theoretical justification for copyright protection, which it is submitted should be an economic justification, rather than a moral justification. The legal analysis in this work seeks to establish whether the copyright protection of computer programs is consistent with the economic justification for copyright protection. In particular, the analysis focuses on the current scope of copyright protection, and seeks to establish whether such protection is excessive, stifling creativity and innovation, and, thus, imposing too high a social cost. It is contended that copyright doctrine has generally sought to minimise these costs, and that current scope of copyright protection of computer programs leaves enough creative room for the production of new software. Despite the fact that the effect of open-source software licences is that authors are unable to earn the direct financial rewards which copyright enables authors to earn as an incentive to create such software, their authors continue to have financial incentives to create such software. Commercial firms who invest in open-source software do so because they seek to provide financially-rewarding related services in respect of software, or because it serves to promote sales in their complementary products. Similarly, the participation of individual computer programmers is largely consistent with the standard economic theories relating to labour markets and the private provision of public goods. Individuals are principally motivated by economic motives, such as career concerns. Copyright protection gives participants the choice to opt for the direct financial rewards which its proprietary protection enables, or the more indirect financial rewards of open-source software development. It is submitted within this research that rather than undermining the rationale for copyright protection of computer programs, the development of open-source software has illustrated that copyright protection allows for the emergence of alternative business models, which may be more economically advantageous to authors.