Public broadcaster SABC and the independent production sector have signed an agreement to undertake a joint research project on local television content procurement practices and intellectual property rights (IP). This indicates the willingness of the SABC to look into alternatives to its current commissioning system, where it retains full ownership of, and all rights to, local programming.
The research project was officially launched on 21 June during the Johannesburg leg of the Encounters South African International Film Festival, with the independent production sector represented by the Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) and the South African Screen Federation (SASFED).
Research into international best practices (in Brazil, Canada, India, South Africa, UK and USA) will be carried out by Mkhabela, Huntley Adekeye Attorneys and Spoor and Fisher Attorneys. Their final report is expected to be tabled at the end of October this year.
Read more in the July 2008 issue of Screen Africa
