Andre Yoskowitz
14 Dec 2008 16:44
British Government culture secretary Andy Burnham has recommended that copyright terms for sound recordings should be extended to 70 years, from the current 50 years.
The announcement has brought joy to record labels and UK musicians who had been campaigning for years to have the copyright terms extended. Until recently however, the campaign had fallen on deaf ears.
Burnham added that the new decision should bring “maximum benefit to performers and musicians.”
Horace Trubridge, of the Musicians’ Union, was ecstatic over the decision. “The MU has always argued that term of protection should not run out during a performer’s lifetime, and we would support any proposal that supported this principle and was of direct benefit to performers.”
Feargal Sharkey, CEO of trade organization U.K. Music added: "At this critical time of change, the creative industries have never been more vital to this nation's future prosperity. The announcement regarding term extension is a clear sign that government, like everyone in our industry, is committed to ensuring that U.K. music retains its status as the very best in the world."