Copyright Review Commission (CRC) - Call for Submissions

A Copyright Review Commission (CRC) has been established by the Department of Trade & Industry to assess the effectiveness of collecting societies as a model for collecting and distributing royalties. The CRC has launched a Call for Submissions with an urgent deadline of 31 March 2011.

The RICPS Office has been charged with drawing up a submission on behalf of UCT, in particular in relation to Clause 7 which relates to universities and has the most relevance in terms of UCT's experience with the issues outlined in the Terms of Reference. Specific points of focus are:

1. The Commission's mandate arose in part as a result of concerns and complaints by authors, artists and musicians about non-payment of royalties for the use of their works by the collecting societies. We would be glad to have feedback regarding the experiences of UCT academics on this issue.

2. UCT has entered into a Copyright Blanket Licence with the DALRO collecting society. We would appreciate any comments on the effectiveness this system and the levels of satisfaction experienced in terms of facilitating the teaching and research mission of UCT academics.

Please direct any comments and feedback, both on the above and on any points of a more general nature to Cynthia Best before 30 March 2011 for inclusion in the submission that is being compiled.