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• Intellectual Property Policy

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• Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act 2008

• 8 April 2008
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Intellectual property rights contribute to the fulfilment of the government's goal of promoting an inclusive, innovative economy for the benefit of all. Intellectual property rights help to promote and foster innovation and creativity. They can also help to underpin our cultural identity.

New advances in digital technology are creating both new opportunities for creative endeavour, and new challenges. The ease with which material can be disseminated by electronic means such as the Internet can deliver new audiences and markets. The ability to access such material also benefits users of information, products and services.

But opportunities also bring challenges. Increased ease of dissemination, copying and accessibility offered by the digital environment can impede the ability of copyright owners and performers to benefit from and control their work.

Copyright law has traditionally aimed to balance the interests of rightholders and users of works of copyright. The challenge is to maintain this balance of interests in a fast-changing technological environment.

New Zealand also needs to be mindful of international developments. We are part of a wider global environment, and net importers of works of copyright. We are active members of the World International Property Organisation, which is considering many of the same issues that are considered in this discussion document.

This discussion document is not intended to provide for a complete review of the Copyright Act 1994. It focuses on the implications of the digital environment for copyright - a substantial topic in its own right. The purpose of this discussion paper is to consider some of the key issues for copyright that arise in a digital environment and explore options for addressing them and to provide an opportunity for interested persons to contribute their views.

We would welcome your submissions on the matters discussed in this document as a first step in considering the impact of digital technology on copyright law.

Hon Laila Harré Associate Minister of Commerce	Hon Paul Swain Minister for Information Technology