March

23, 2015
Dear Subscribers
URGENT: Closure of Sapa on 31st March 2015 and deletion of all Sapa content
I write to you on behalf of the board of directors of Sapa and with reference to the letter
that was sent to you dated 12 March 2015.
At its recent meeting, the Sapa board became aware of a letter that has been sent to you by
the Editor of Sapa regarding the deletion from all subscriber media platforms, archives, and
storage facilities the content that had been supplied to you in terms of your agreement with
the company.
After considering this letter, and although the action called for is in line with the agreements
subscribers have with Sapa, the board feels that there is a need for it to clarify the situation
regarding the Sapa content that has been supplied to you.
What the intention of the agreement is, is that if a subscriber is carrying a database of Sapa
stories, i.e. a detailed and substantial archive of content substantially in the format that it
was sent by Sapa to subscribers, then this archive needs to be deleted.
The intention is not that subscribers delete content received from Sapa which has been
published in single stories within their print or other products.
For the avoidance of any doubt, the deletion requirement applies only in cases where
subscribers might have collected and assembled a stand-alone database of separate Sapa
stories, which may include stories that might not even have been published by the
subscriber.
Whilst the board has agreed that you need not remove the content unless it is held within
an separate archive or database, it is important to note that content which includes Sapa
copyrighted content, and in particular that which includes copyrighted AP, AFP and dpa
content supplied through Sapas news subscription service has been sold to the recent
purchaser of the Sapa assets including the archives.

It is therefore important that the usage and re-usage of all content of AP, AFP and dpa
continues to be handled as previously and that in particularly no content or pictures in your
possession is passed onto third parties in any form whatsoever.
Please acknowledge receipt of this letter by signing below and returning a copy to Piliswa
Nongcawula on piliswa@sapa.org.za
Yours sincerely

Minette Ferreira
Sapa Chair

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This confirms that we have received and have read and accept your letter above.
For and on behalf of:
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Signature

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Name of person signing
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Date
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The South African Press Association (Incorporated not for gain) Reg. 05/11175/08, Cotswold House,
Greenacres Office Park, corner Victory and Rustenberg Roads, Victory Park, Johannesburg P O Box
7766, Johannesburg, 2000. Tel: 011 7821600. Fax (Admin) 011-7821591, (Editorial) 011-7821587/8.
Email news@sapa.org.za Website www.sapa.co.za
Directors: M Ferreira (Chair) A J Basson I Davidson A L Howard D N Tiffin P G Greyling