Other services - FAQ

Why must I have permission to adapt a story/novel/film for the stage?

The copyright owner has the exclusive right to make, or authorise the making of, an adaptation of their works, e.g. the creation of a translation, or stage play. Secondary works (such as a film based on a novel) are also copyright protected.

Why should I register my play with DALRO?

Authors generally prefer to write rather than get caught up in the drudgery of copyright administration. Registering your play with DALRO gives you the freedom to create, while the burden of protecting your work is shifted to a company with many years' of experience.

I have written a book. How do I publish it?

DALRO isn't a publishing house, nor do we act as literary agents. You should submit your manuscript to a publisher. For assistance on selecting a publisher, you may consult the Publishers' Association od South Africa's (PASA) directory or website, or an authors' association such as the Academic and Non-Fiction Authors' Association (ANFASA).

I have written a film/television proposal/script. Can I submit it to DALRO?

DALRO doesn't administer film or television rights. Contact an industry body such as the National Film and Video Foundation for assistance, or consult an attorney.

Somebody has stolen my script/book. What should I do?

You should consult an attorney.

I want to republish a book electronically. What should I do?

The owner of the copyright in a literary work or published edition retains all rights, including the right to create a digital edition. If you own the copyright in the work, you can go ahead. However, if you want to create a digital edition of a work and you're not the owner of the copyright, you must get permission from the copyright owner.

I was told changing 10% of an artwork makes a new work, and that I don't have to worry about copyright if I've done no more than this. Is this true?

If you changed the introduction of a song, or perhaps the accompaniment, the tune will still be the same. The same goes for visual works of art – you will still require permission when creating a derivative work.

I found an image on the Internet - surely there is no copyright?

The image was still created by someone, who has copyright in his work. The owner of the website may have a licence to use the image - but that licence doesn’t extend to people who visit the site, unless it clearly says so. Consider the possibility that the image may have been placed on the Internet without the permission of the copyright owner.

Surely I can use photographs of out-of-copyright paintings that I find on the Internet for free?

Copyright in a photograph lasts for 50 years from the date that the photograph is made, or made public. Digital photography has been around for less than 50 years, so it's safe to assume any digital version of a photograph on the Internet is copyright protected. The copyright owner who created the digital version of the original work has copyright in a photograph, and has every right to expect compensation for the use of the work, unless he's explicitly placed it in the public domain.