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Copyright Act, 1978 (Act No. 98 of 1978)

Chapter 2 : Infringements of Copyright and Remedies

26. Onus of proof in proceedings

 

(1) Where in the case of a literary, musical or artistic work or a computer program a name purporting to be that of the author appeared on copies of the said work or program as published or, in the case of an artistic work, appeared on the work when it was made, the person whose name so appeared shall, if it was his true name or a name by which he was commonly known, in any proceedings brought by virtue of this Chapter be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, to be the author of the work or program.

 

(2) In the case of a work or program alleged to be a work or program of joint authorship, subsection (1) shall apply in relation to each person alleged to be one of the authors of the work or program as if references in that subsection to the author were references to one of the authors.

 

(3) Where in any proceedings brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to a literary, musical or artistic work or a computer program which is anonymous or pseudonymous it is established—
(a) that the work or program was first published in the Republic and was so published within the period of fifty years ending with the beginning of the calendar year in which the proceedings were brought; and
(b) that a name purporting to be that of the publisher appeared on copies of the work or program as first published, then, unless the contrary is shown, copyright shall be presumed to subsist in the work or program and the person whose name so appeared shall be presumed to have been the owner of that copyright at the time of the publication: Provided that this subsection shall not apply if the actual name of the author of a pseudonymous work is commonly known.

 

(4) Where in any proceedings brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to a literary, musical or artistic work or a computer program it is proved or admitted that the author of the work or program is dead, the work or program shall be presumed to be an original work or program unless the contrary is proved.

 

(5) Subsection (4) shall also apply where a work or program has been published and—
(a) the publication was anonymous or under a name alleged by the plaintiff or the State to be a pseudonym; and
(b) it is not shown that the work or program has ever been published under the true name of the author or under a name by which he was commonly known or that it is possible for a person without previous knowledge of the facts to ascertain the identity of the author by reasonable inquiry.

 

(6) Where in any proceedings brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to the alleged infringement of copyright in a cinematograph film it is proved that the name purporting to be the name of the author of that film appears thereon in the prescribed manner, the person whose name so appears shall be presumed to be the author of that film, unless the contrary is proved.

 

(7) Where in any proceedings brought by virtue of this Chapter with respect to the alleged infringement of copyright in a sound recording it is proved that records embodying that recording or part thereof have been issued to the public and that at the time when those records were so issued the following claims appeared on a label or any other printed matter affixed to such records or in or on anything in which they were contained, that is to say—
(a) that a person named on the label or printed matter is the author of the sound recording; or
(b) that the recording was first published in a year and at a place specified on the label or printed matter, that label or printed matter shall be sufficient evidence of the facts so stated, except in so far as the contrary is proved.

 

(7A) claim contemplated in paragraph (a) of subsection (7) may be made by means of the symbol "C" in conjunction with the name of the person concerned, and a claim contemplated in paragraph (b) of that subsection may be made by means of the symbol "P" in conjunction with the year and place in question.

 

(8) [Section 26(8) deleted by section 24(b) of Act No. 125 of 1992].

 

(9) In any proceedings by virtue of this Chapter with regard to the alleged infringement of the copyright in a cinematograph film registered in terms of the Registration of Copyright in Cinematograph Films Act, 1977 (Act No. 62 of 1977), it shall be presumed —
(a) that every party to those proceedings had knowledge of the particulars entered in the register of copyright mentioned in section 15 of the said Act from the date of the lodging of the application in question to record those particulars;
(b) that the person who is alleged to have done an act which infringes the relevant copyright did that act without the required authority, unless the contrary is proved.

 

(10) In any proceedings by virtue of this Chapter with regard to the alleged infringement of the copyright in a cinematograph film, a sound recording or a computer program, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that any person trading in the selling, letting or distribution of copies of any of the said works, and who was found in possession of a copy of any of such works, sold or let for hire or by way of trade offered or exposed for sale or hire such copy.

 

(11) Where in any proceedings by virtue of this Chapter with regard to the alleged infringement of the copyright in a work it is proved that the person alleged to have done an act which allegedly infringes the relevant copyright did such act without the authority of the exclusive licensee, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that the relevant act was done also without the authority of the owner of the copyright concerned.

 

(12)
(a) In any proceedings by virtue of this Chapter relating to the alleged infringement of the copyright in a work, evidence to prove—
(i) the subsistence of the copyright in that work; or
(ii) the title of any person in respect of such copyright, whether by way of ownership or licence,

may be adduced by way of affidavit, and the mere production of such affidavit in such proceedings shall be prima facie proof of the relevant facts.

(b) The court before which an affidavit referred to in paragraph (a) is produced, may in its discretion order the person who made the affidavit to be subpoenaed to give oral evidence in the proceedings in question, or may cause written interrogatories to be submitted to such person for reply, and any reply purporting to be a reply from such person, shall likewise be admissible in evidence in such proceedings.