Intellectual property protection for e-commerce business methods in South Africa : envisioning an equitable model for SMEs in the tourism industry

• Main Author: Ncube, Caroline
• Other Authors: Kinderlerer, Julian
• Format: Doctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: University of Cape Town 2015
• Subjects: Law
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/11319

Includes abstract. === includes biblioraphical references. === This thesis examines the intellectual property (IP) protection of the functional aspects of e-commerce business methods, which are embedded in the methods' underlying computer programs. It considers how South Africa can achieve an equitable balance between creators' interests in securing remuneration and attribution for, and users' interests in securing affordable access to, these methods. The thesis' primary perspective is that of users, and its arguments centre on the position of small and medium sized enterprises that provide accommodation in the tourism sector (accommodation SMEs).