RISA have released an encouraging Anti-Piracy Bulletin for June 2008. Their anti-piracy website www.stoppiracy.org.za is regularly updated and contains more detail on the industry’s fight against Piracy while providing a platform for the reporting of activity relating to Music Piracy. Download the Bulletin HERE.

Spanish consumers will soon be saddled with an anti-piracy tax on media devices, including the iPod. The government-mandated charge applies to a range of media-focused devices, specifically those capable of storing, playing, recording, or copying sounds and images.

The SABC, the SA Screen Federation (SASFED) and the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) signed an agreement on Saturday, 21 June 2008, in Hyde Park, Johannesburgto undertake a joint research project into international best practices regarding procurement of local TV by public broadcasters and the issue of intellectual property rights.

 

South Africa's music stars of the future have been given a much welcomed boost with the awarding of 80 music study bursaries to the value of R662 000 by the Southern African Music Rights Organisation 's Endowment for the National Arts.

The DMC Championships is a global event where DJs from across the world compete against each other to be crowned NO.1 DJ in the world and thereby also earning themselves a golden set of turntables.

AIRCO invites AIRCO Members to join various AIRCO Committees, on a voluntary basis. Levelling the playing field for independent music requires as many hands on deck as possible, and AIRCO welcomes applications from Members interested in sitting on the following Portfolio Committees:

World-famous African music festival Sauti za Busara (Sounds of Wisdom) is now receiving applications from artists interested in performing at the festival in Zanzibar, 12 - 17 February 2009, and "we encourage South African music groups (of any style) to apply, in case they are interested and available to participate."

 

The American Independent Music body A2IM has published a position paper outlining their opposition to the controversial Orphan Works Act, which is rapidly moving through Congress.