Theft vs Influence: Can you own a sound in South Africa?
Can you own a piece of music? Mike V heard two songs which sounded weirdly similar, and
wondered when creative influence turns into stealing. He contacted Nicole
Smalberger, a South African copyright law expert, to get the lowdown on music
protection.
According to Nicole, "The minute you record
something, your copyright exists."
Plus, how can an artist ensure that their song is not
used unfairly by another musician?
Is there protection against unfair usage for
developing artists, who worry that sharing their song might lead to it being
stolen by a larger artist?
Nicole also helps unpack the use of songs by DJ's at
live performances, and how best to ensure you remain on the right side of the
law if you're playing music at your first level 2 afternoon braai. Listen to the interview below...
Find more podcasts from Mike V and the 'After Hours' team on their channel below.