Copyright rules in New Zealand

Get to grips with the framework of copyright law in New Zealand with the 2018 TerraLex Cross-Border Copyright Guide.

What are the main sources of copyright law in New Zealand?

The main source of copyright legislation in New Zealand is the Copyright Act 1994 (Copyright Act).

The Copyright Act replaced and repealed the Copyright Act 1962, which in turn replaced and repealed the Copyright Act 1913. The previous Acts still apply where a work was created at a time when those Acts were in force and transitional provisions between the Acts can be relevant when considering older works.

As a common law legal system, New Zealand also relies on case law to interpret and set precedents in law. As a result, there are a number of judicial decisions that contribute to the sources of copyright law in New Zealand. 

To find out more about subsistence of copyright, ownership, infringement, remedies, enforcement and copyright reform in New Zealand, download the full chapter below.