Dear Wikimedia ZA chapter and mailing list members,

This is a quick update on Wikimedia ZA activities this year so far.

*Wikimania*

As I am sure you are well aware, Wikimania https://wikimania2018.wikimedia.org, the annual Wikipedia (and other Wikimedia related projects) international conference will be taking place in Cape Town in just over a weeks time. The pre-conference will run from the 18th to the 19th July and the main conference from the 20th to the 22nd July over the weekend.

Wikimedia ZA has been intimately involved in hosting and organising this event with the Wikimedia Foundation. We are expecting around 650 attendees at this years event. The event is open to the public with a special call out to local Wikipedia editors. So if you are in Cape Town please do join us. We will have walk in registrations. South African citizens are entitled to a 50% discount.

I also still have a very limited number of complementary tickets for veteran Wikipedia editors which I will give out on a first come first serve basis to local Wikipedia editors. Just please give me your Wikipedia user name so I can check your edit activity.

Some events, such as the Water Sustainability edit-a-thon https://wikimania2018.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimania_edit-a-thon, do not require a registration to join so check out the program https://wikimania2018.wikimedia.org/wiki/Programfor anything that might interest you.

*Copyright Bill*

I have just submitted Wikimedia ZA's commentary to the South African Parliament that supports calls for both Freedom of Panorama and Fair Use. I have attached our submission to this email. The call from parliament was for members of the public to comment on specific sections of the draft 2 version of the amended Copyright Bill that is expected to go before Parliament later this year.

Wikimedia ZA supports changes to sections 15 (1) that will replace wording that will essentially function as a Freedom of Panorama clause. Even if that term is not used in the bill.

There has also been dramatic movement in the bill replacing the old, confusing, and outdated Fair Dealing wording with an updated Fair Use policy that is more open to innovation and easier to understand for laypeople such as your average Wikipedia editor.

I have attached both the draft bill being looked at right now, the call out for comments as well as Wikimedia ZA's submission to parliament.

If you wish to submit a comment in support of Freedom of Panorama and/or Fair Use, or on any other specific elements of the draft bill (in support or against) then please submit them to Andre Hermans < ahermans@parliament.gov.za> by the 18th July 2018.

Regards,

Douglas.