Finding the copyright key to the music box: could implementing a "fair use" defence provide a means to unlock copyright-protected music in New Zealand?

Abstract

This paper looks at music copyright in New Zealand and explores how some of the moves to reform copyright in the United Kingdom and Australia might inform changes to copyright law in New Zealand. While New Zealand has traditionally followed the United Kingdom in implementing changes in copyright, this paper argues that a consideration of some aspects of United States Copyright Law might better serve New Zealand, particularly the defence of "fair use". Original paper presented at IAML (NZ) Conference, 16–17 October, 2014 and subsequently expanded.