New Zealand Legislation: Acts

23 Duration of copyright in sound recordings and films

• (1) Copyright in a sound recording or film expires—

  • (a) At the end of the period of 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work is made; or

  • (b) If it is made available to the public by an authorised act before the end of that period, 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which it is so made available,—

  whichever is the later.

  (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a sound recording or film is made available to the public when—

  • (a) the work is first—

    • (i) published; or

    • (ii) communicated to the public; or

  • (b) in the case of a film or film sound track,—

    • (i) the work is first shown in public; or

    • (ii) the work is first played in public.

  Compare: Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, s 13 (UK); 1962 No 33 ss 13(3), 14(3)

  Section 23(2): substituted, on 31 October 2008, by section 15 of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 27).