Opposition grows to DVD import bill

By RICHARD WOOD

The Government is forging ahead with a plan to ban the parallel importing of videos and DVDs for nine months following the date of international cinema release.

This is despite opposition from the Consumers' Institute and despite the demise of the rental market for such videos and DVDs, which one importer said had accounted for most importing.

It appears individual consumers may also be prevented from onselling personal imports within the nine months - although this may depend on whether they buy in bulk.

The office of the Associate Minister of Commerce would not comment, nor would it identify how a ban on selling privately could be enforced.

It said details in the bill were under privilege until it was introduced.

Consumers Institute head David Russell said in this age of the internet the proposed law changes were nonsense.

"We had great difficulty when the idea was first mooted and we see it nothing more than trade protection for the New Zealand end of the market. I don't think it will achieve its purpose because anyone who has access to the internet will of course buy it over the internet."

The law changes are part of The Copyright (Parallel Importation of Films and Onus of Proof) Amendment Bill. A spokeswoman for the Associate Minister of Commerce, Judith Tizard, said the Government wanted to get it through quickly, preferably by the end of the year.

DVD importer Chris Cox, of DVD World, no longer imports large quantities of DVDs before local movie release because a court decision last year means parallel imported DVDs and videos are not allowed to be rented out by video rental stores.

He said he was the main target of the bill because he was the main importer of such DVDs and previously supplied them to the video rental stores.

Cox said he now did a mere 40 to 60 sales per title at around $80 for individuals.

"We're just a small little business in Dominion Rd and it just makes me laugh how the Government is going to go ahead and do this and just waste everyone's time."

He said the planned legislation was more for the distributors, those who held copyright, and to provide a control mechanism for studios.

"They are not taking into consideration the New Zealand public."

He had had no approach from the Government on the issue.

"The Government hasn't consulted with us in any shape or form, no correspondence with us. They haven't discussed with us how we operate, and what could be the effects if they do this nine-month ban."

DVD World does not plan to alter its business direction until the Government sets a specific date.

"I'm just going to take a wait and see approach," Cox said. "Why should the public go without? If a product is out there people want to see it. They want to see the film so why should they sit and wait."

He said DVD World went through the process of getting imports legally rated and the Government's actions would lead to more unrated movies coming across the internet.

Last year, Judith Tizard said the proposed law changes were in response to hundreds of New Zealanders being concerned about the future of regional picture theatres. Both Tizard and Commerce Minister Paul Swain said the changes would allow for the orderly release of films, videos, and DVDs.