Access to Learning Materials in South Africa: The Convergence of Developmental and Rights-Based Arguments for Access to Knowledge

Abstract

Arguments for increasing access to knowledge have generally been concerned with rights. In the developing context, increased access to knowledge also has strong economic and developmental benefits. An emergent access to learning materials movement in South Africa has the opportunity to make use of both kinds of argument. The South African education system is currently deficient in several ways, and some of these deficiencies arise from lack of access to appropriate learning materials. This paper reviews some of the arguments put forward by the access to learning materials movement in favour of increasing access to knowledge and reforming the South African intellectual property law framework. These arguments and potential constitutional arguments for increasing access will be strengthened by the availability of empirical evidence about the economic benefits of alternative intellectual property policies. It is argued that further research of this nature should be undertaken.