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Copyright Law in South Africa

The Mandela Institute in collaboration with the Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property from American University Washington College of Law will be hosting a webinar series focusing on aspects of copyright law in South Africa.

The aim of the webinar series is to provide clarity on a fast evolving area of law, that has seen both litigation and parliamentary law reform. 

International copyright, trade policy, and South Africa
Copyright Law and Disability
Copyright Law for Language Translations and Free Flow of Information

AI and the Law Webinar

The widespread use of large language models across the world, like ChatGPT, DALL-E, Midjourney etc. has brought the legal regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) into the public eye. Several countries around the world are starting to see litigation against the companies that have developed these algorithms. In this webinar, panellists discussed pressing contemporary issues in the legal regulation of AI: AI and data protection, AI and intellectual property, and AI and ethics, drawing on global developments, and situating these issues in the South African context.

AI and the Law Webinar

Renewable Energy Markets in South Africa: Exploring the Policy and Legal Landscape for Embedded Generation (Seminar Series)

The Claude Leon Chair in Earth Justice and Stewardship, Professor Tracy-Lynn Field, hosted an online seminar series exploring the varying policy and legal landscapes for promoting embedded renewable energy generation in the residential, community, education, municipal, and commercial and industrial markets.

While much attention has been focused on South Africa’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme, the embedded generation market has boomed as South Africans search for more reliable, cleaner solutions for energy security.

In the seminar series, leaders and first-movers discussed the models they are pursuing to advance the uptake of renewable energy in different market segments, and the policy, legal
and regulatory opportunities and constraints they have faced along the way.

Renewable Energy Markets in South Africa - Seminar 1 Household Sector
Renewable Energy Markets in South Africa - Seminar 2 Community Grids
Renewable Energy Markets in South Africa - Seminar 3 Education Sector
Renewable Energy Markets in South Africa - Seminar 4 Energy Trading
Renewable Energy Markets in South Africa - Seminar 5 Sustainable Energy and Municipalities

Whistleblowers: True champions and defenders of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

In commemorating Human Rights and Freedom Months in 2023, civil society groups, Active Citizens Movement, Leaders for Integrity, Whistleblowers of America in partnership with Mandela Institute, a centre within the Wits School of Law, and Primerio International, and other key stakeholders, are proud to host a dialogue on Whistleblowers: True champions and defenders of human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

Whistleblowers: True champions and defenders of human rights, democracy and the rule of law

Webinar on People, Not Profits: On Systemic Corruption, Human Rights & Institutional Innovation

The South African Research Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice, the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS), and the Mandela Institute, a Centre within the School of Law, of the University of the Witwatersrand hosted a webinar presented by Dr. Camila Vergara, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow, University of Cambridge.

Webinar on People, Not Profits: On Systemic Corruption, Human Rights & Institutional Innovation

Webinars: UNCITRAL Days in Africa

The Mandela Institute in partnership with UNCITRAL as part of its UNCITRAL Days in Africa initiative (for more information, click here) hosted a series of webinars.

Towards an economically inclusive AfCFTA: leveraging technology and the harmonisation of laws to improve MSMEs’ access to credit
Stronger MSME participation within the AfCFTA: An effective and efficient insolvency law to improve access to credit.
Improving intra-African e-commerce: What role for the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and for UNCITRAL?
In search of an inclusive AfCFTA: what role for advisory centres on international trade and investment law?

Fintech Regulation and Platform Regulation Webinars

The Mandela Institute at the Wits School of Law in collaboration with the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER), and the Centre for Competition, Regulation and Economic Development (CCRED) at the University of Johannesburg hosted the Fintech Regulation and Platform Regulation webinars, which forms part of a research project supported by a grant from Omidyar Network.

Fintech Regulation Webinar
Platform Regulation Webinar

State duties and powers with regard to mandatory vaccination

The Mandela Institute, a centre situated within the Wits School of Law, hosted a webinar discussing state powers and duties with regard to mandatory vaccination. The webinar discussed the burden placed on the private sector to take the lead on mandatory vaccination and also whether mandatory vaccinations would be constitutionally valid and what action should be taken by the state.

State duties and powers with regard to mandatory vaccination

Regulatory implications of data protection in Africa

Mandela Institute hosted a series of webinars on regulatory implications of data protection in Africa which formed part of a broader research project. 

Data Protection in Africa's Digital Economy
Data Protection in South Africa: The potential impact of data localisation on South Africa's project of sustainable development.
Economic impact of data localisation policies on Kenya and Nigeria's regional trade obligations
Creating value in the data economy: role of competition and data ownership
The impact of data localisation laws on trade and foreign direct investment in Africa

TRIPS Webinar Series

Hosted by the Health Justice Initiative and Mandela Institute, a series of webinars addressing legal and policy issues arising out of the proposed WTO TRIPS waiver.

Legal and Policy Issues Arising out of the Proposed Trips Waiver
Diverging Approaches to Addressing the COVID-19 Pandemic
The way forward on and beyond the TRIPS waiver proposal

International Economic Law (southern) African perspectives and priorities

The Mandela Institute, a centre situated within the Wits School of Law, hosted a series of three book launch webinars which discussed chapters of the book INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC LAW - (southern) African perspectives and priorities.  The first book dedicated to examining international economic law from a (southern) African perspective.

Introduction, Perspectives and Priorities
General and Special Issues
Trade Remedies

Copyright Amendment Bill

The Mandela Institute at the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand hosted a webinar discussing the Copyright Amendment Bill;which is currently under consideration of the Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry in the National Parliament.

Copyright Amendment Bill

Trade, Patent Law and Vaccine Procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic: Issues and Lessons for the Global South

The Mandela Institute at the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand hosted a webinar on Trade, Patent Law and Vaccine Procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic: Issues and Lessons for the Global South.

Trade, Patent Law and Vaccine Procurement during the Covid-19 pandemic: Issues and Lessons for the Global South

Mining Communities who say 'No': Hostage-takers, Victims or Agents of Transformative Change?

The escalation of mining-related conflict in some communities is untenable. What should the state, mining companies, traditional authorities and communities themselves be doing to restore peace, order and respect for human rights? Are our laws and institutions transformative enough to hold and deal with the conflicts in mining-impacted communities? And instead of victims or hostage-takers should we be seeing the communities who are saying no as the provocateurs for deeper and more extensive transformation in the mining industry?

Webinar - Mining Communities who say 'No': Hostage-takers, Victims or Agents of Transformative Change?

Competition in the Digital Economy: The Competition Commission's Approach to Enforcement and Merger Regulation

The Competition Commission and the Mandela Institute, a centre in the Wits School of Law, hosted a Panel Discussion on the paper recently released by the Competition Commission titled ‘Competition in the Digital Economy: The Competition Commission’s Approach to the Enforcement and Merger Regulation’.

Competition in the Digital Economy: The Competition Commission's Approach to Enforcement and Merger Regulation

Law, policy and inequality

The South African Research Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice, the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies, and the Mandela Institute, a centre within the Wits School of Law, hosted a series of webinars on "Law, policy and inequality".

Law, Wealth Creation and Inequality
Wealth inequality in South Africa: What do we know and how can law and policy address it?
Inequality and Indebtedness
Digitalization and the World of Work(ers)

International trade pre-, during, and post-Covid-19: Crisis and Vulnerabilities

This webinar discussed the reasons for the WTO being in a crisis at the time of Covid-19 and the way(s) in which international trade rules have been and may still be weaponised as a sword and shield to protect the economic and social interests of a state and its citizens. We identify the existing structural vulnerabilities and inequalities underpinning the international trading system and question whether this global crisis marks a point for strategically reorienting of this rules-based regime toward more just and equitable outcomes.

International trade pre-, during, and post-Covid-19: Crisis and Vulnerabilities

Public Lecture: Data Protection, Trade and Competition Law

The Mandela Institute of the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand cordially hosted a public lecture delivered by Judith Rauhofer, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

The lecture covered a number of pressing issues in privacy as this field of law deals with challenges of technology and of social concern, including inequality.  Prof Rauhofer will draw upon her extensive experience in information technology and international economic law as well as recent experiences in crafting model laws and national legislation for data protection in Africa.

Judith Rauhofer is a Senior Lecturer in IT Law at the University of Edinburgh and an Associate Director of the SCRIPT research centre. She holds professional legal qualifications in Germany (Rechtsanwalt) and England (Solicitor). Her research interests include all areas of internet law and policy, e-commerce, online privacy, data protection, information security and electronic surveillance.  Judith has previously worked in legal practice in Liverpool, London and Manchester, advising clients from the media and new media industries on aspects of e-commerce, data protection and IT law. She continues to provide consultancy services in the area of e-commerce and data protection compliance.The 

The public lecture took place on 11 March 2020 at 17:30. 

 

Public seminar by Norman Manoim and Competition and Economic Regulation for Inclusive Growth in Southern Africa book launch

The new Competition Amendment Act, which comes into force on the 20th anniversary of the Competition Act, has changed the face of traditional competition law in South Africa in several ways. The Amendment Act includes a more explicit focus on inclusion, particularly of black owned businesses and SMEs, it specifically aims to address the buying and selling power of dominant firms, and it empowers the authorities, through market inquiries, with powers to break up firms if the markets in which they are operating are not functioning competitively, even if the firms have not contravened the law. 

Do the recent amendments go far enough to deal with entrenched concentration and barriers to entry, and can they effectively contribute to addressing endemic inequality in South Africa? What can we learn from the record of competition law enforcement in South Africa and the power of the law to improve economic participation for marginalised groups and firms? What role is there for civil society and research in informing the work of competition authorities and realising the objectives of the competition law?

Public Seminar: The Mandela Institute (MI) at the University of Witwatersrand and CCRED at the University of Johannesburg are pleased to invite you to an Open Society Foundation public seminar presented by former Chairperson of the Competition Tribunal of South Africa and Acting Director of MI, Mr. Norman Manoim.

Book Launch: The session will include the launch of the edited volume by Profs Jonathan Klaaren, Simon Roberts and Imraan Valodia, titled Competition and Economic Regulation for Inclusive Growth in Southern Africa (2019, Jacana Publishers), which speaks to the challenges and impacts of competition law and economic regulation throughout Southern Africa.


Panel Discussion

Is the NHI Bill good or bad for your health?

The Mandela Institute of the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand hosted a panel discussion on
11 September 2019 where experts shed some light on the debate over the recently published National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill.

The panelists were :

Dr Nicholas Crisp, Consultant in Minister of Health Office, responsible for establishing the NHI Fund Office

Neil Kirby Director, Werksmans Attorneys and head of its Health Care Practice

Adila Hassim Advocate, Johannesburg Bar and co-founder of Section 27

Prof Karen Hofman, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand

The discussions were chaired by :

Prof Imraan Valodia  Dean of the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Wits

Recording of the live stream panel discussion on You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Hq0BE5acQ&t=2869s

Wits University News Article on the panel discussion: http://www.wits.ac.za/news/latest-news/general-news/2019/2019-09/is-the-nhi-bill-good-or-bad-for-your-health.html

 

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