The ratification and implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty: a look at the future of South African Copyright Law

Abstract

This dissertation will analyse South African copyright law and its ability to facilitate blind, visually impaired, or otherwise print disabled people. The Marrakesh Treaty intends to promote the making and distribution of copies of, among others, books in formats accessible to visually impaired persons. South Africa did not sign this Treaty yet, intends to sign and ratify this Treaty in the future. This dissertation will analyse the current South African copyright law and policy related to visually impaired persons. To gain insight, this work will also analyse international framework, and foreign copyright law. The aim of this analysis will be to find ways of how the future of South African copyright law should look like, according to the Marrakesh Treaty, to be able to facilitate VIPs. This research also intends to expose the possible law and policy related barriers for non-ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty. Furthermore, this dissertation will analyse what the possible legal implications thereof will be. The main goal of this dissertation will be to formulate a proposal on how the Marrakesh Treaty should me implemented in South African copyright law. This proposal will take into account possible barriers or policy related issues that arise from prior research.