Copyright extension debate continues

Friday, April 24th, 2009

The vote for copyright extension has gone in front of the European Parliament with the majority of MEPs voting in favour of extending copyright for music recordings to 70 years.

Originally intended to be an extension to 95 years, the revised decision will create the foundations for the European Council to vote – with the said European Council also needing to approve the decision before it becomes instated.

The last time the decision got this far the UK – and 11 other countries – voted against the extension deciding there was little in the 12-page deal that would truly benefit the artists and creatives who would license their recordings in this digital age.

The UK has since revised its considerations and is now reportedly ready to agree to the legislation.

In other copyright news the lawyer representing one of the Pirate Bay founders, Peter Sunde, has called for a re-trial in the case that saw the four founders of the file sharing network Pirate Bay sentenced to one year in jail and £2.4 million in damages to various musical outfits.

Sound Bites: Copyright, Dylan and Leeds/Reading

Monday, March 30th, 2009
  • UK government “no” to current plans for copyright extension

The UK government has aroused indignation from music industry bigwigs after they voted against a revised copyright extension on sound recordings.

Seeing that while the proposed deal would certainly benefit the rights holders of the material, there is little in the 12-page deal that would truly benefit the artists and creatives who would license their recordings in this digital age.

While the UK government’s decision has been met by consternation from senior industry figures, the move has been praised by the Featured Artists Coalition for “recognising that the proposed extension of copyright term in recorded music does not deliver real lasting benefits for artists or consumers.