Local publishers called on Tuesday for a range of government action to help make textbooks and other learning materials affordable, even to the poor.
Suggestions included removing value-added tax from books, increased funding for libraries and relaxing copyright law.
The publishers were responding to criticism from civil society organisations that publishing companies are profit-driven and do little to promote free access to information. The organisations also said stringent copyrights laws hinder access to learning material by the poor.
”The critical issue is not making materials available via more lenient copyright only, but how to provide affordable materials,” said Nicol Fassen of the Press Association of South Africa.
He was speaking at the Access to Learning Material in Southern Africa conference held in Parktown, Johannesburg.
”Affordability is a joint responsibility. Government has a role to play in making sure there is enough money for buying books and the proper acquisition, distribution and use of materials,” said Fassen.
Intellectual property attorney Carlo Scollo-Lavizzari described copyright as the ”fuel that feeds the fire of creativity” and said that if it were taken away, then the fire would die.
”The publishing industry is very fragile. Should it be destroyed, thousands of jobs will be lost,” said Scollo-Lavizzari.
Macdonald Netshitenzhe of the Department of Trade and Industry invited delegates to make recommendations that the government could take to trade negotiations. — Sapa