Legal News

Musicians win copyright extension to 70 years
Tue 13th Sep 11 - 9:32

by Josh Halliday, Guardian

Thousands of music performers, from little-known session musicians to Sir Cliff Richard, will receive royalties from songs released in the 60s for an extra 20 years, under new copyright laws ratified by the EU on Monday.

The legislation – known as "Cliff's law" after its most high-profile campaigner – extends copyright on music recordings from 50 years to 70 years.

Copyright on many of the most popular 60s tunes, including many Dame Shirley Bassey hits, had been due to expire within two years but will now last until at least 2033.

The directive is expected to be implemented by EU member states by 2014. The law applies only to the performers of the music. Composers already own copyright over their music until 70 years after their death.

The move marks a significant victory for the music industry, which has long campaigned for the change amid lost sales and online piracy. CD sales fell 12% year on year to 98.5m in 2010, while digital downloads failed to fill the gap, according to figures released in January.

"This important decision comes not a moment too soon," said the chief executive of UK music industry body the BPI, Geoff Taylor. "An exceptional period of British musical genius was about to lose its protection. As a matter of principle, it is right that our musicians should benefit from their creativity during their lifetimes, and that they should not be disadvantaged compared to musicians in other countries."

The music industry has extensively lobbied government to increase copyright for performers from 50 years to 95, but an independent review shelved that plan in November 2006.

As part of the directive, music labels must ensure that all recordings are commercially available or allow the artists to release the recordings themselves.

Eight EU member states – Belgium, Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden – voted against the legislation.

Jools Holland OBE, the host of the BBC's Later show and famous jazz pianist, said: "It is fantastic news to hear that copyright term has been extended to 70 years. Artists put their hearts and souls into creating music and it is only fair that they are recompensed in line with the rest of Europe.

"It's important that creators get paid for the work they do and this extra 20 years is much deserved."

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