The Consumer Institute of South Africa, the SA Universities Vice-Chancellors Association, and the Committee of Technikon Principals co-hosted a workshop and conference, "Access to Learning Materials in Southern Africa," January 24–25, 2005.

Issues under discussion included the integration of intellectual property into a development agenda, publishing industry practices, and the state of access to learning materials in the region. Invited participants included key policymakers, trade unionists, education activists, university/library network representatives, academics, open source software advocates, language rights activists, and disabled user groups.