RIANZ don't really want you to listen to music.

I'm sure plenty of people on here would have been following the saga of NZ's updated copyright laws that will probably be passed in the next few months. Amongst other things this update could possibly legalise format shifting a CD to your iPod and recording a TV show on your VCR, providing you delete it within a few days. Keep it any longer (even if you haven't watched it) and you'll be breaking the law.

it was interesting to read the Herald story today and the comments from Campbell Smith, CEO of RIANZ.

Recording Industry Association chief executive Campbell Smith said most companies already turned a blind eye to personal copying, and association members had never taken legal action to prevent people taking copies for personal use.

"I think that's fair. You buy something for your own use and that's how it should be. We are in the business of trying to sell people music, not trying to prevent them doing what is reasonable."

When then did RIANZ then oppose format shifting in all of their submissions to the MED when the initial discussion papers were distributed?

RIANZ strongly opposes the proposal in the Position Paper to introduce a new format shifting exemption into the Act. In RIANZ's view, there is no need or economic justification for the introduction of a format shifting exception for sound recordings. The effect of such an exemption would simply be a green light for wholesale unauthorised copying and would effectively destroy the efforts of the industry within New Zealand to fight existing rampant piracy and educate the public as to the value of copyright. The introduction of such an exemption would send a confusing signal to the public, particularly young people. It would be impossible to convey a message that piracy harms right holders when users would be able to legally make copies of music in their own homes. It would also make taking action against known pirates so much more difficult that it currently is. More importantly, the introduction of a private copying exemption would be completely inconsistent with the government's initiatives to nurture and grow the music industry within New Zealand. Furthermore, the Ministry has not identified an economic justification or sufficient public policy reason for such an exemption and it is difficult to see how then it would satisfy the copyright framework articulated by the Ministry in both the Discussion Paper and the Position Paper.

I won't bother rambling on any more about RIANZ or the big music companies - we know they're dinosaurs stuck in the dark ages who need to get a grip on reality.




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