All Fair Deal members care about how the TPP could force New Zealand to change its copyright laws in ways that are not in the country’s interests. As we are different organisations, we each have specific concerns too. We’ve written up some information on what we care about. Learn more by clicking on an article below.
Why are the fair dealing exceptions of the Copyright Act important? Sections 42 and 43 of the Copyright Act permit “fair dealing” with a work for certain purposes: for criticism or review of a work or performance of a work, for reporting current events, and for research or private study. These exceptions recognise that, while the rights…
This week, New Zealand, the US and seven other countries are discussing how copyright exceptions fit into the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). ‘Copyright exceptions’ are instances where the law does not punish copying. In law, you have the rule, and then you have the exception to the rule. The rules in copyright law have,…
In the past New Zealand has shown great foresight and leadership in the world by staying true to its national ethos, even at the cost of breaking from international conventions. From recognising a woman’s right to vote and denying US nuclear powered warships the right to transit, NZ has shown the willingness to make a…
By Maira Sutton EFF (The Electronic Frontier Foundation) has been among several groups following the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the huge ramifications it would have for the future of the open Internet, access to knowledge, and innovation. Based on what we know from its leaked intellectual property chapter (IP chapter), it carries many of the…
Under present New Zealand copyright law, copyright continues until 50 years after the death of the author or creator of a work. In most if not all free trade agreements negotiated with other countries, the United States has insisted that intellectual property law, and in particular copyright law, be strengthened in favour of copyright owners,…
TPMs (technological protection measures) are processes, devices or systems that prevent the infringement of copyright in a TPM-protected work. An example is the zoning system that prevents a video or DVD marketed in one area (such as the United States) being played in another area (such as New Zealand). TPMs can, therefore prevent a work…
I wrote an NBR opinion piece in December last year outlining some of the concerns with the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations and, more specifically, significant and troubling pressure from the United States on our government to overturn New Zealand’s IP laws (read Groser trades away tech to save agriculture). As a quick recap, the US government…
Have you heard of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement or TPP? It’s not surprising if you haven’t because the TPP is a “behind closed doors” trade deal being negotiated by 11 countries from around the Pacific, including New Zealand. And like most trade negotiations, it’s complicated and it will seriously affect you. While the original agreement in 2005 was…
LIANZA, the Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa, opposes the reintroduction of a ban on parallel importing. Parallel importing is the importation of lawfully-manufactured items directly from overseas suppliers, rather than through local New Zealand distributors. It was made lawful by the Copyright (Removal of Prohibition on Parallel Importing) Amendment Act 1998. At…
Duck shooting season opened three weeks ago, and so far it’s been a pretty fickle season. While Canterbury and Marlborough shooters have reported some good hauls, further north it’s been decidedly average. While clear skies and sunshine are good news for most, they have worked against shooters in the Wellington region, giving the ducks decent visibility and affording…