NZ to follow Australian law with copyright term extension

New Zealand will be the latest country to announce its intention to extend their copyright term from 50 to 70 years.

While the final Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) won’t be unveiled for another month, a summary published by NZ’s Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry mentions the new minimum copyright term.

The summary notes that while the TPPA means annual benefits for the dairy, meat, wine and manufactured goods industries, among others, the new copyright period brings about the only significant cost for the country - costing consumers up to an extra $55 million a year in higher prices.

“This cost – in terms of foregone savings on books, films, music and other works – increases gradually over 20 years and averages around $55 million a year over the very long term.”

The good news is that many sound recordings of New Zealand’s notable heritage acts will remain protected for an extra 20 years.

The move to see New Zealand fall in line with Australia and the US was set in motion in March when news of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP)’s draft first broke. It was believed then that along with NZ, Japan and Canada would too be forced to extend their copyright term from 50 to 70 years. Sure enough, in April this year the Canadian government announced the new changes would take place in accordance with Canada’s 2015 Budget.

New Zealand will join over 60 countries worldwide who have copyright terms of 70 years or longer. Currently, this list includes the US, all of Europe, South Korea, Singapore and Australia.

Australia joined the ranks in 2005 when it altered its copyright term for sound recordings from 50 years to the life of the author plus 70 years. The move was part of Australia’s free trade agreement with the United States.

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