(24 July 2013) A full report on the Trans-Pacific Partnership IP Negotiations by Tony Millett, Chair of LIANZA’s Standing Committee on Copyright is available here.
Previously known as P4, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) now includes 12 countries: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, United States and Vietnam.
The TTP is intended to be a regional trade agreement dealing with the removal of trade barriers and the reduction of compliance costs among members, but it also focuses on other issues such as regional integration, and regulatory coherence and transparency. It includes a major section on intellectual property, including copyright.
The six major areas of concern for LIANZA around the TTP are:
- Possible re-introduction of a ban on parallel importing
- Possible extension of copyright duration
- Possible restrictions on “fair dealing” provisions
- Possible changes to library copyright exceptions
- Possible increase in the protection given to technological protection measures
- Possible change in the balance of copyright law
LIANZA has made submissions, made presentations to negotiators and stakeholders, been involved in worldwide lobbying coordinated by IFLA and been an active partner in the Fair Deal Campaign.
Once the TPP Agreement is signed there is likely to be quick implementation by means of law changes and these will be subject to the normal processes, including submissions through the Parliamentary Select Committee system. Until the final agreement is signed it is unknown exactly what changes will be made to New Zealand copyright law.
In the meantime we encourage you to be vigilant, keep abreast of what is happening and, where the opportunity arises, lobby for the best possible outcome for our libraries and our users. Read Tony Millet’s full report here.
