How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry?

dc.contributor.advisorNcube, Caroline
dc.contributor.authorMushati, Julita
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-13T07:24:36Z
dc.date.available2026-01-13T07:24:36Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.date.updated2026-01-12T07:58:36Z
dc.description.abstractThis dissertation examines the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry, which constant technology developments have worsened. The emergence of technology has been a dual-edged sword for the music industry. While it empowers musicians to reach vast consumers, it simultaneously simplifies and accelerates unwarranted copying, access, and reproduction of copyrighted material. Consequently, protecting intellectual property rights has become strenuous due to the rapid increase of file-sharing systems, therefore, prompting a dire need for modernised solutions. The principal purpose of this research is to explore how emerging technologies can assist in reinforcing enforcement mechanisms and analyse the deficiencies in the South African music industry context. This study utilises a desk research method examining emerging technologies and their association with the enforcement of copyrights in the music industry. Technologies such as Digital audio watermarking, Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital audio fingerprinting, and machine learning will be examined in this paper, and how these emerging technologies can potentially establish robust enforcement mechanisms. In particular, the findings of this research reveal the dual role of technology that enables digital copyright infringement, which presents a substantial threat to the protection of copyright, however, emerging technology can be tactically employed to address the enforcement challenges, and the need for Copyright laws to be at par with technological advancements. This dissertation provides informative and valuable awareness of the relationship between merging technology and enforcement mechanisms within the context of the South African music industry and how this relationship can foster an environment that upholds copyright works and affords musicians the recognition and financial incentive they deserve.
dc.identifier.apacitationMushati, J. (2025). <i>How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry?</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Commercial Law. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42551en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationMushati, Julita. <i>"How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry?."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Commercial Law, 2025. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42551en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationMushati, J. 2025. How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry?. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Commercial Law. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42551en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Mushati, Julita AB - This dissertation examines the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry, which constant technology developments have worsened. The emergence of technology has been a dual-edged sword for the music industry. While it empowers musicians to reach vast consumers, it simultaneously simplifies and accelerates unwarranted copying, access, and reproduction of copyrighted material. Consequently, protecting intellectual property rights has become strenuous due to the rapid increase of file-sharing systems, therefore, prompting a dire need for modernised solutions. The principal purpose of this research is to explore how emerging technologies can assist in reinforcing enforcement mechanisms and analyse the deficiencies in the South African music industry context. This study utilises a desk research method examining emerging technologies and their association with the enforcement of copyrights in the music industry. Technologies such as Digital audio watermarking, Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, digital audio fingerprinting, and machine learning will be examined in this paper, and how these emerging technologies can potentially establish robust enforcement mechanisms. In particular, the findings of this research reveal the dual role of technology that enables digital copyright infringement, which presents a substantial threat to the protection of copyright, however, emerging technology can be tactically employed to address the enforcement challenges, and the need for Copyright laws to be at par with technological advancements. This dissertation provides informative and valuable awareness of the relationship between merging technology and enforcement mechanisms within the context of the South African music industry and how this relationship can foster an environment that upholds copyright works and affords musicians the recognition and financial incentive they deserve. DA - 2025 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - Copyright KW - digital copyright infringement KW - copyright enforcement KW - blockchain technology KW - artificial intelligence KW - music industry KW - technology LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2025 T1 - How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry? TI - How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry? UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42551 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/42551
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationMushati J. How can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry?. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Law ,Department of Commercial Law, 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/42551en_ZA
dc.language.isoen
dc.language.rfc3066eng
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Commercial Law
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Law
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subjectCopyright
dc.subjectdigital copyright infringement
dc.subjectcopyright enforcement
dc.subjectblockchain technology
dc.subjectartificial intelligence
dc.subjectmusic industry
dc.subjecttechnology
dc.titleHow can emerging technology remedy the deficiency in robust enforcement mechanisms for digital copyright infringement within the South African music industry?
dc.typeThesis / Dissertation
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationlevelLLM
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
thesis_law_2025_mushati julita.pdf
Size:
1.39 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.72 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Collections