The term of copyright for sound recordings is being extended by 20 years in New Zealand.
The country’s current copyright protection covers 50 years from the release date. Soon, that will be 70 years.
The change was included in a free Trade agreement between the European Union and New Zealand announced on June 29.
The agreement is now to be drafted, but it is aimed to be ratified within two years, reports the Financial Times.
According to the trade agreement, New Zealand will implement the copyright term extension “within four years of entry into force of the Agreement”.
The EU extended the copyright term for sound recordings to 70 years, from 50, back in 2011.
The implementation of that directive followed a lengthy music industry campaign led by artists like Paul McCartney and Cliff Richard.
When it comes to music copyright, the newly announced agreement puts New Zealand more in sync with some other global recorded music markets.
In the UK, for example, a sound recording is also protected for 70 years after release.
In Australia, meanwhile, sound recording copyright lasts for 70 years after the year of first commercial release.\
In the United States, the term of copyright protection for sound recordings is 95 years.
“This long-overdue change will help preserve and protect iconic recordings from Aotearoa, and support the New Zealand artists that created them.”
Jo Oliver, Recorded Music NZ
The copyright term extension in New Zealand was welcomed by the country’s record industry.
In a statement, Jo Oliver, CEO of the country’s recorded music trade body, Recorded Music NZ, which represents the recorded music business in Aotearoa (the Māori-language name for New Zealand), said: “Copyright enables artists to make a living from their work and is fundamental to the sustainability and future growth of the music industry in Aotearoa.
“Extending copyright term to 70 years from the date of release puts New Zealand artists and right holders on a level playing field with their overseas counterparts.
“This long-overdue change will help preserve and protect iconic recordings from Aotearoa, and support the New Zealand artists that created them.”
