Copyright Act (NZ)
Significance in Protecting Intellectual Property
01
Key points
• The Copyright Act 1994 is essential for protecting intellectual property rights in New Zealand, including literary, artistic, musical, and digital works.
• It provides legal protection against copyright infringement, ensuring creators can control how their works are used, copied, and distributed.
• The Act defines fair use exceptions, allowing limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as research, private study, criticism, review, and news reporting.
• It addresses digital rights, extending copyright protection to works published online and in digital formats, and includes provisions for technological protection measures
(Copyright Act 1994).
02
In the IT world
Developers must ensure they don't copy code unlawfully.
Designers should credit images/fonts
Businesses should license tools correctly
03
Indigenous Knowledge and Māori Traditional Knowledge
• The Copyright Act 1994 recognizes the importance of indigenous knowledge and cultural property, but its protection of Māori traditional knowledge is limited (Copyright Act 1994).
• While the Act protects original works created by Māori individuals, it does not fully address collective rights or the unique nature of Māori traditional knowledge (Waitangi Tribunal, 2011).
• There have been ongoing discussions and recommendations to strengthen legal protection for Māori cultural expressions, including waiata, haka, and traditional designs, to prevent misappropriation and ensure respect for Māori intellectual property (Waitangi Tribunal, 2011).
• The Act encourages consultation and respect for indigenous rights, but further reforms are needed to provide comprehensive protection for Māori traditional knowledge in the digital age (Waitangi Tribunal, 2011).