New Zealand has joined the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Copyright Treaty (WCT) and Performers and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT).

MBIE says joining the WPPT means that from 30 December 2018, performers have the right to be identified as the performer and to object to any modification to their performance.  Performers, and in particular musicians, also get property rights in relation to any sound recordings made from their performances.

New Zealand has also joined the 1971 Paris Act of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which provides creators such as authors, musicians, poets and painters with the means to control how their works are used, by whom, and on what terms.

MBIE says joining these three international treaties completes New Zealand’s intellectual property obligations under the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

Amendments to bring the Copyright Act 1994 into conformity with the WCT and WPPT were recently made through the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Amendment Act 2018.