EASTERN CAPE – Buffalo Stationers was sentenced by the King William’s Town Magistrate’s Court on 24 August 2022 on charges of contravention of the Copy Right Act by distributing infringed copies and for numerous charges of possession of a storage device used for making infringed copies.
On 24 June 2015, Buffalo Stationers unlawfully and intentionally distributed copies of infringed text books in order to generate an income without the authority of the complainant, Juta and Company. A successful purchase of a text book, “The Auxilliary Nurse” which is published by Juta & Company was made from Buffalo Stationers. Juta & Company is by virtue of an exclusive license, the owner of copyright on this publication.
The matter was reported to the East London based Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team. The company was summoned to court in 2020 and released on warning. After a number of court appearances, the company was ultimately sentenced to a fine of R12 000-00 on 24 August 2022.
Source: South African Police Service