The University of Auckland

May 20, 2015

University of Auckland Warns of Negative TPP Impact

With the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiation drawing to a close, the University of Auckland has expressed serious concerns about its potential implications.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Stuart McCutcheon says that while details of the agreement remain secret a number of leaks have given rise to serious concerns and highlighted just how damaging intellectual property provisions in the agreement could be.

“We understand that the TPP will extend copyright from the ‘life of the author plus 50 years’ to ’life plus 70 years’ for works created by individuals and either 95 years after publication or 120 years after creation for corporately owned works (like Mickey Mouse). This is well beyond the internationally agreed period of ’life plus 50 years’ set out in existing international agreements.”

Professor McCutcheon adds: “If this is what happens, it will lock up our cultural heritage for a further 20 years, denying all New Zealanders access. It means students, creators, performers, researchers and educational institutions will be denied access to culturally significant material – it’s this material which forms the basis of new creations.”

Professor McCutcheon says the leaked provisions could also have a negative impact on educational institutions by increasing costs and restricting access to information resources including film and sound recordings. “It has been claimed that the leaked provisions are out of date, but of course we just don’t know the situation because the details have not been revealed. We really need government to be more upfront about where all this is heading so that we all understand its implications.”

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