CIPC Copyright System Rewards Creators of Music Through Royal Collection and Distribution
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) regulates the neighboring rights in music to ensure that the copyright system rewards creators of music through royal collection and distribution. This was said by the Executive Manager for Innovation and Creativity at the CIPC, Ms Nomonde Maimela during the World Intellectual Property Day (WIPD) media launch held in Umlazi, KwaZulu-Natal.
“Lately, the collection societies in this area of rights administration collect and distribute over R200 million to their members who are the owners of sound recordings and perfomancing artists. This simply confirms that copyright in music is a business from which one can make a living from these royalties,” said Maimela.
According to Maimela, while the country celebrate the value and the importance of intellectual property, the impact of Artificial Intellegence (AI) on copyright system has been felt.
“AI and copyright have become a subject matter of academic, legal and policy debate involving a variety of stakeholders such as artists. As a country, we are making observations to see how AI is affecting the very same copyright rules that we are administering, especially the CIPC in its capacity office,” she said.
Addressing the same launch, The Head for National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), Ms Jetane Charsley said their support helps ensure that publicity funded outputs are protected under the relevant Intellectual Property (IP) legislation and developed in a way that serves the country’s broader social and economic goals, whether an invention is a medical intervention, an educational toolkit, a software platform, or a creative digital resource.
“As we mark WIPD, I encourage all our partners in research institutions, government, industry, and civil society to keep strengthening the IP ecosystem we have built together. To the universities and science council, your role in protecting South Africa’s publicity funded IP is vital. NIPMO is here to support you with guidance, funding and oversight,” said Charsley.
Charsley added that this year’s theme theme is Intellectual Property and Music – Feel the Beat reminds the country that music and research, through distinct in their outputs, share the same creative spark and the need for protection.
“A songwriter relies on copyright law to secure royalties. A reseacher may rely on a patent or licence agreement to ensure their discovery reaches the market responsibity. Both need systems that reward originality, incentivise innovation, and enable real-world impact,” she said.
Charsley urged all collaborators in the innovation space, to continue working together to ensure IP protection leads to equitable outcomes from commercial products to social impact.
The WIPD media launch was a partnership comprising the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC), Small Enterprise Development and Finance Agency (Sedfa), National Intellectual Property Management Office (NIPMO), Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), Durban Film Festival (DFO) and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT).
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Bongani Lukhele – Director: Media Relations
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E-mail: BLukhele@thedtic.gov.za
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