Using standards content in digital and AI tools: What you need to know

Standards play a vital role in supporting safe, consistent and high‑quality practice across New Zealand’s economy. As digital tools, artificial intelligence (AI) and large language models (LLMs) become more widely used, it is important to understand how standards content can – and cannot – be used in these environments.

All standards published and sold by Standards New Zealand, including joint Australian/New Zealand and international standards, are protected by copyright. Purchasing a standard does not give you the right to copy, reproduce, extract, or reuse its content beyond personal or organisational use of the original document. This applies whether the standard is accessed as a PDF, web edition, or printed copy.

Using standards versus reproducing standards

Standards are created to be used by practitioners. They inform how work is carried out, what requirements must be met, and which specifications to follow within a business or project.

However, there is an important distinction between using a standard and reproducing its content.

When text, tables, diagrams, formulas, or other content from a standard are copied or embedded into another product or system without permission, this is a breach of copyright. This applies even if the intention is to improve accessibility or efficiency through digital tools.

Copyright and AI, LLMs, and digital applications

The growth of AI‑enabled tools has led to increasing interest in using standards content within software, apps, and LLM‑powered systems. While innovation is encouraged, standards content cannot be used in these tools without the appropriate licence.

Examples of copyright breaches include:

• Copying content from a standard into training materials, manuals, or guidance documents.
• Embedding standards content into software, mobile apps, or digital platforms.
• Using or uploading standards or standards content for use within AI tools, including prompts, outputs, knowledge bases, or LLM powered assistants. Uploading standards or standards content to ChatGPT or similar tools is strictly prohibited.
• Selling or distributing standards from unauthorised websites or platforms.

These restrictions apply regardless of whether the tool is commercial, internal, automated, or AI‑driven.

Legal and commercial consequences

Copyright infringement has serious legal consequences under the Copyright Act 1994. Unauthorised use of standards content can undermine the integrity and authority of standards and impacts the revenue that enables Standards New Zealand to maintain and develop trusted national standards.

We actively monitor and respond to copyright breaches.

Licensing standards content

We want people to use standards and to do so correctly. Standards content can be copied or reused where a copyright licence is in place that specifically allows this.

Licensing requests are considered on a case‑by‑case basis and may involve a fee, depending on the nature and scale of use. Requests for permission can be made via our licensing enquiry form.

Standards licensing enquiry form(external link)

If you are developing a digital product, software application, or AI‑enabled tool and wish to incorporate standards content, we encourage you to contact us early. We offer Digital Products Licensing (DPL) arrangements designed to support innovation while protecting the integrity of standards.

Working together on responsible innovation

Standards New Zealand supports responsible digital innovation and is open to working with third parties to make standards more accessible in appropriate ways. Any licensed digital or AI use of standards content must respect copyright, clearly acknowledge the authoritative source, and ensure that standards remain the definitive reference.

Further information is available on our website:(external link)

Publications and copyright(external link)