Each category of copyright work has a different time limit within which copyright applies. This time limit is dated from a specific point in the lifespan of that work or its author.
Literary works
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies.
Examples include text including emails, training manuals, novels, song lyrics, tables and compilations including multimedia works and computer programs.
Dramatic works
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies.
Examples include dance, mime, film scenarios or scripts.
Musical works
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies.
Examples include score and sheet music.
Artistic works
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the author dies.
Examples include paintings, drawings, diagrams, maps, models, photographs, sculptures.
Publisher's copyright
Publisher's copyright (typographic layout of a published edition).
25 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first published.
Examples include edition layout derived from complete or partial literary, dramatic or musical works.
Sound recording and film
50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made or made available to the public, whichever is later.
Examples include film sound tracks separate to the actual music or story.
Communication works
50 years from the end of the calendar year of the first broadcast or transmission.
Examples include satellite television broadcasts and podcasts and includes repeats.
Product designs and casting moulds
16 years from the time the work is industrially applied.
Examples include injection moulds and their mass produced products.
Works of craftsmanship
25 years from the time the work is industrially applied.
Examples include chairs with hand applied decoration.
Crown copyright
100 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was made.
Examples include New Zealand government publications.
For Crown copyright work (typographical layout of a government publication), protection lasts 25 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work was first published.
Examples include edition layouts derived from complete or partial New Zealand government literary, dramatic or musical works.
This quick reference guide doesn't list all time limits, and time limits are subject to legislative changes. For more information, please visit the following pages: