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Audio Format Shifting To Be OK'd In New Zealand

Bloodrage writes "The New Zealand government is about to define a small part of the rights assumed by the 'fair use' clause in the Copyright Act 1994. Essentially they are going to protect the consumers' rights to convert media from one format to another for personal use, making it clearly legal to transfer tracks from a commercial CD to a mix-CD, MP3 player, PDA, PC, 8-track, or tuned array of hummingbirds. NZ law already makes it clear that gifting or reselling items includes a transfer all of rights, including copyright, warantee, and licencing agreements, so providing your original is the genuine article you're not a criminal. An article in the The Dominion Post gives an outline of the responses from the recording industry and why the government is considering it. It boils down to; this is 'fair use' and don't argue, and that the government can't see how the alternative could be (affordably) enforced."

12 of 327 comments (clear)

  1. We have great laws here in NZ by walter_kovacs · · Score: 5, Funny

    First legalized prostitution, and now this. ;-)

  2. it won't happen by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Howard is a fucking idiot. Vote latham!

  3. Don't Get Excited by tonyr60 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Before all you geeks get any ideas, NZ is a right crap place. The Govt is bloody awfull, the weather is terrible, and despite what you think you know, LOTR was actually made on the moon.

    We don't want any more to migrate here, the place is OK as it is.

  4. Kiwi by Viceice · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... or tuned array of hummingbirds.

    You mean, a tuned array of Kiwis?

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    Sometimes I wish I was a plumber, then I'd know how to deal with other people's shit.
  5. Re:New Zealand is Progressive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny
    WTF do people from other parts of the world think we are part of Aus?

    You're one of top two least corrupt nations on the planet, one of the top three on economic freedom, press freedom is high and you made the most successful film trilogy of all time. So we have to annoy you somehow...

  6. Tuned Hummingbirds by Hoonis · · Score: 4, Funny

    I suppose overclocking them is out of the question.

  7. Branches? by Walkiry · · Score: 3, Funny

    You mean tentacles, right?

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    ---- Take the Space Quiz!
  8. Re:And on a side note... by trendyhendy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Fair use of a sheep, hmmm...
    Can I let my friend borrow my sheep? Yes.
    Can I make a copy of my sheep for my friend? Yes, but not legally.

    Reminds me of the joke:
    Aussie: "Do you shear you sheep over in NZ?"
    Kiwi: "No, get your own damn sheep!"

    Disclaimer: Yes, I am a NZer.

  9. Re:Why is this even an issue? by wings · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...you can send it in and have it replaced FREE, plus a "modest shipping and handling charge" ...

    <sarcasam>
    They already have that method in place. Shipping is FREE, and you don't even have to send in your original.
    You just go down to the local CD store and pay the modest $19.95 'handling charge' when you pick out your replacement.
    If the model you want is obsolete, or no longer in stock, you can choose a replacement of 'equal or greater value'.
    </sarcasam>

  10. Re:Aussies unite... by pknoll · · Score: 2, Funny
    Odd that a former British colony has more freedom than the land of the free : )

    The land of the free is also a former British colony.

  11. NZ prostitutes by Rupert · · Score: 4, Funny

    I have to say that the ones I saw in Auckland were quite beautiful and had very soft wool.

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    1. Re:NZ prostitutes by andynz · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think you must have been in Sydney.