South African Filmmakers and Copyright

The International Copyright Balance and Documentary Film Project of American University has released a groundbreaking report and film on the experiences of South African documentary filmmakers with copyright clearance obligations. The report and film are the result of a joint project of American University's Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property and Center for Social Media, partnering with the South African Documentary Filmmakers Association and Black Filmmakers Network. South African filmmakers encounter many of the same frustrations that U.S. documentary filmmakers used to, in a "clearance culture" where all quotations from copyrighted work are typically licensed--often unnecessarily. South African filmmakers are taking action to expand their opportunities. The report and film were simultaneously released in December. You can see them both here: http://www.wcl.american.edu/pijip/go/workshop-dec2009.