1978

• 1978, did you know?
• It’s all about access to knowledge
• … what were YOU doing competition

1978, did you know?

If you were around in 1978, you would know that … the Kreepy Krauly was a cutting edge invention, wii referred to bodily waste and not a technology, and the web was used by spiders.

But did you know that the current South African Copyright Act was written in 1978?

Now that’s crazy talk

Not so much about the Kreeply Krauly, but more about the Copyright Act. Especially when you think that the ways we communicate today weren’t even invented then. Email in 1978? Nope. Talking to overseas family members on Skype? Definitely not. Downloading and sharing video and photographs? Not possible.

The Copyright Act of 1978 needs to be updated to reflect what we as South Africans can legally do in the digital age.

It’s all about access to knowledge

In 1978 we were accessing information very differently to how we are accessing it today. If we’re not accessing information via a computer, we’re doing it via a mobile phone. But doing it, we are.
The Copyright Act, which is one of the major acts that governs how we access information, is 32 years old. It is now time to be updated.

Understanding the debate around access to knowledge is key to understanding why, and how, the Copyright Act should be updated. Read more here. And watch the video below.

… what were YOU doing competition

Along with the National Consumer Forum, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the protection and promotion of consumer rights and interests in South Africa, The African Commons Project is holding a competition on Facebook where you get to show us what you were – or were not – doing in 1978.

You Could Win Yourself a Year’s Free Broadband!

All you need to do is upload, in pictures and words, what you were or were not doing in 1978.  It’s that simple.  It can be something clever, thought-provoking, funny or wise.  It could be a picture, a photo or illustration with a few sentences or a poem.  It’s totally up to you as long as you own the rights or have permission to use the work.  The best depiction will win a year’s free broadband access courtesy, PLUGG our local sponsor.  What makes a depiction the best?  Well, that’s up to you because anyone who joins the Facebook page can vote for which depiction they think is the best.

So, If You’re Too Shy To Try, Then Get Stoked And Vote!

The competition is open to all earthlings, but only those earthlings living in South Africa will be legible for the free broadband prizes that up for grabs.

Please note that the prize is for the broadband ONLY, you’ll need your own Telkom line and router.