Appointment to Copyright Tribunal

Associate Minister of Commerce, Judith Tizard, announced today the appointment of Judith Fyfe as a Member of the Copyright Tribunal for a four year term.

"Ms Fyfe’s unique background in the creative sector combined with her board experience and legal training would bring significant knowledge and experience to the Tribunal’s deliberations and complement the skills of other Tribunal members, Judge David Harvey and academic and lawyer Paul Sumpter," Ms Tizard said.

Judith Fyfe is a Wellington lawyer and a lecturer in oral history in New Zealand and the United States. For the last 24 years she has been the co-director of City Associates Films, a film production company. She is a co-founder and past director of the New Zealand Oral History Archive, past president of the New Zealand Writers Guild Southern Branch, a governor of Radio New Zealand, a member of the Arts Board for Creative New Zealand and a former board member of the New Zealand Guild of Film and Television Arts. She has written several books, including Matriarchs and War Stories. Ms Fyfe was a broadcast journalist in radio and television from the 1960s to 1980s including the consumer advocate production Fair Go. As a forensic law specialist she has researched intellectual property issues in relation to artists and works of art.

The Tribunal resolves copyright-related disputes between licensing bodies, or proposed licensing bodies, and those who hold or seek to hold licences.

The Tribunal is a statutory body established under the Copyright Act 1994 ("the Act"). The role of the Tribunal is to resolve disputes between licensing bodies, or proposed licensing bodies, and those who hold or seek to hold licences.

Organisations or individuals who wish to use copyright works may apply to a licensing body, who establish licensing schemes on behalf of copyright authors, to grant a licence to use such copyright works. Where a dispute arises between these parties, usually with respect to royalties, the matter can be referred to the Copyright Tribunal. The Tribunal can choose whether to hear the case, and has the jurisdiction to confirm or vary the scheme as it sees fit.

Appointment of Members to the Copyright Tribunal

The Tribunal consists of a Chair and two members, who are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Commerce. On 19 September 2002 the Minister of Commerce delegated to the Associate Minister of Commerce, Hon Judith Tizard, responsibility for intellectual property matters, including appointments. The Tribunal consists of a Chair and two members, who are appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Minister of Commerce. The Ministry of Justice provides secretariat services to the Tribunal.

All members must be able to deal with a diverse range of business and technological matters and are expected to have experience in, or the ability to, interpret legislation and an interest in copyright issues.