In practice, the distribution to clients of newspaper and magazine articles by Press Clippers or Media Monitoring Organisations (MMOs), without a licence to do so from the publishers concerned, contravenes South African copyright law.
DALRO, which represents the majority of South African newspaper and magazine publishers by direct mandate, and also represents numerous international publishers through the bilateral agreements it has with 25 countries, now provides MMOs the peace of mind to go about their business without fear of infringing the law. Most importantly, it ensures that copyright-holders are
duly compensated whenever their works are reproduced and distributed by MMOs.
Nothando Migogo, managing director of DALRO, says media monitors are an integral part of South African business. "This new licence will enable the industry to continue providing crucial information to South African business without infringing the copyright of the publishers who generate that information."
DALRO has been in contact with media monitoring organisations and is looking forward to working with them and its publishers towards a fairer and more copyright compliant business culture.
