The North West Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Conservation, Environment and Tourism will be conducting public hearings on the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2012.
The public hearings will be held at Lichtenburg Town Hall, Borelelo Community Hall at Swartruggens, Bona Bona Community Hall near Morokweng and Tshing Extension Community Hall in Ventersdorp on Friday, 2 August 2013. All public hearings commence at 10h00.
The Bill aims to provide for the recognition of certain manifestations of indigenous knowledge as a species of intellectual property; to amend certain laws; such as:
I. The Performers' Protection Act, 1967, to provide for the recognition and protection of performances of traditional works.
II. The Copyright Act, 1978 to provide for the recognition and protection of indigenous works, to provide for the establishment of a National Council and National Database of indigenous knowledge as well as a National Trust Fund for Indigenous work.
III. The Trade Marks Act, 1993, to provide for further recognition of indigenous terms and expression and for the registration of such terms and expressions as trade marks.
IV. The Design Act,1993, to provide for the recognition and registration of indigenous designs and the creation of a designs register; and to provide for matters incidental thereto.
Members of the media are invited to attend the public hearing and they can contact Namhla on 079 527 0628 for further information.
