Can You Copy Music or Computer Software?

Current copyright law has been in the spotlight recently with a large majority of the population now owning portable MP3 players or computers capable of playing music.

The law provides that you are not allowed to copy an album or tracks to CD, tape or any other media, unless you have permission from the copyright owner. This means you cannot copy music onto a compilation CD or even onto an IPOD or MP3 player without breaking the law. (Downloading MP3’s off the internet where you have paid for them or otherwise have the consent of the copyright owner is therefore an exception to this). Otherwise, you are not even allowed to make a backup of your music in case the original gets damaged. Copyright in music lasts until 50 years after it was made.

Computer software is slightly different in that as long as you are not expressly forbidden by the software licence, you can make a backup to use in case the original gets damaged. Copyright in computer software is treated the same as copyright in literary works - it expires 50 years from when the last living author of the work dies.

There are some other rules relating to copyright that we have not covered in this article – such as what you are allowed to copy for educational or review purposes. We think it is time the government reviewed the copyright law in New Zealand. In the meantime, at least you now know whether you are breaking it or not.