Privacy, copyright and patent

• Piracy


  The legal copying of original music/books/patent rights/trademarks without the rightful owner's permission
• Pirated goods


  • Unauthorised copies of copyright material such as DVDs or CDs
• Consumers no longer value the worth and quality of genuine products sold by businesses


  Business image and reputation can be damaged by inferior counterfeit goods
• Piracy occurs


  Businesses producing the original goods have their profits reduced
• Piracy occurs


  Deprives the original artist of his/her income
• People buy pirated copies


  Contribute to the problem for businesses
• Businesses experience a decline in sales


  Due to copied or imitation products being distributed
• Businesses experience impact from piracy


  May be forced to implement price adjustment strategies to reduce the impact on its sales figures
• Businesses experience impact from piracy


  Will spend money if they need to take legal action against people who copy their products or music
• Copyright


  The owner of intellectual property has the right to produce and copy the intellectual property
• Businesses can sue someone who infringes the copyright


  1. Sue someone who sells or distributes work that they knew were infringements of copyright

  2. Take legal action against people who copy their products
• Patent


  Exclusive right to make use of or sell the invention or a product made an invented process for a limited period of time
• Businesses can take out a patent for new inventions


  1. Include a sample of their invention with application

  2. Register a patent with the patent's office in South Africa

  3. Invention must comply with the Patent Act No. 57 of 1978