New Zealand Gov't OKs Tougher Copyright Laws

The New Zealand Parliament last week approved new legislation that is expected to help the music industry in its battle against piracy. However, under the new law, parallel imports of music product will remain legal.

The Copyright (Parallel Importation of Films and Onus of Proof) Amendment Bill, which goes into effect tomorrow, will make it easier for local copyright owners to take action against importers of pirated product.

"The changes shift the onus of proof of legitimacy on to the importer of digital recordings," says Recording Industry Assn. of New Zealand CEO Terence O'Neill-Joyce. "In practice, this will prove invaluable in stemming the flow of counterfeit material across New Zealand's territorial border."

New Zealand customs officials are active in apprehending counterfeit CDs, especially from Pakistan. "This new law will make customs' task that much easier," adds O'Neill-Joyce.

The new law does not ban parallel imports, despite the recording industry's lobbying efforts on the issue. For DVD/video, on the other hand, retailers will not be able to import product for the first nine months after a title's release overseas.

The legislation follows New Zealand's inclusion on the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) 2002 Special 301 piracy watch list. The USTR had expressed concern about the lack of action taken on parallel imports and urged New Zealand to adopt tougher copyright laws.