Copyright Act 1994

Acts permitted in relation to copyright works - Computer programs, sound recordings, and films

80B: Copying or adapting computer program if necessary for lawful use

You could also call this:

"Copying a computer program is okay if you need to fix it to use it properly"

You can copy or adapt a computer program without infringing copyright if you need to do so for lawful use. You must need to copy or adapt it to use the program, for example to fix an error. You also must not be able to get a working copy of the program at a normal price within a reasonable time. You are allowed to do this if you are the lawful user of the computer program. This means you can copy or adapt the program if it is necessary for your use of it. You can do this to correct an error in the program. This rule does not apply if you are allowed to copy or adapt the program under section 80A or 80C. You can look at these sections to see if they apply to you. They may allow you to copy or adapt the program in different situations.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM1704654.

This page was last updated on 3 December 2025 — View changes

Topics:

Intellectual property > CopyrightConsumer protection > Product safety for consumers

80A: Decompilation of computer program, or

"When you can copy a computer program to make it work with another one"

80C: Observing, studying, or testing of computer program, or

"Using a computer program to learn how it works"

Part 3Acts permitted in relation to copyright works
Computer programs, sound recordings, and films

80BCopying or adapting computer program if necessary for lawful use

The lawful user of a computer program (A) does not infringe copyright in it by copying or adapting it, if—
copying or adapting it is necessary for A’s lawful use of the program (for example, to correct an error in the program); and
a properly functioning and error-free copy of the program is not available to A within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial price.

This section does not apply to copying or adapting that is permitted under section 80A or 80C.

Notes

Section 80B: inserted, on 31 October 2008, by section 43 of the Copyright (New Technologies) Amendment Act 2008 (2008 No 27).