The Copyright (Parallel Importation of Films) Amendment Act 2013 extended for a further 3-years the prohibition on the immediate parallel importation of films into New Zealand, which will now expire on 31st October 2016. Up until the 31st October 2013 there was a prohibition on the parallel importation of films into New Zealand within a period of 9-months from the international release date. However, the Amendment Act changed the prohibition period to 5-months from the international release date. After the 31st October 2016 cinemas will have to compete directly with other exhibition formats such as DVD, Pay-Per-View and Free-To-Air.
