Blind SA's second copyright win: courts can rewrite a law when Parliament stalls
Blind SA v President of the Republic of South Africa and Others — Constitutional Court · (CCT 300/24) [2025] ZACC 9
What happened
In Blind SA I (2022), the Copyright Act was found unconstitutional for failing to let accessible-format copies (Braille, audio, large print) be made for disabled people. This follow-up judgment addressed the remedy while Parliament's Copyright Amendment Bill remains unpassed, reading a new s19D into the Act.
Why it made the news
A rare case of disability rights driving copyright law, closely watched by publishers, educators and disability-rights organisations.
For lawyers & law students
Confirms that where a constitutional defect in legislation persists because Parliament has not acted, courts may read in a remedial provision rather than simply suspend the declaration of invalidity indefinitely — a notable extension of remedial technique beyond the more cautious approach in some earlier reading-in cases.
For citizens
Blind and print-disabled South Africans, and the organisations that support them, can lawfully convert books and study material into accessible formats without risking copyright liability.
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