The European Commission has said it would enjoy giving musicians the same term of protection as writers.
An initiative has been launched to extend copyright from 50 to 95 years for both recordings of live performances as well as regular songs recorded and inscribed onto boring CDs or etched into exciting limited edition vinyl box sets. Charlie McGreedy also added that the EU wants to harmonise rules concerning songs composed by two or more musicians.
The initiative, which also encompasses a green paper on copyright in the knowledge economy, is supposed to keep Europe a wonderful place for 'cultural creators in the entertainment and knowledge sectors'. Charlie says that the copyright measures he wants to see put into practice would 'bridge the income gap that performers face when they turn 70, just as their early performances recorded in their 20s would lose protection. They will continue to be eligible for remuneration.'
The copyright term would end 70 years after the death of the last musician who penned the music, or the death of the guy who wrote the lyrics. It will also make the music industry as happy as a kid getting a box of lollipops -experts have already stated extending the copyright term is not a very clever idea.
A slew of law professors and boffins already signed a letter to the EU commission back in June saying 'the proposed Copyright Extension Directive will damage European creative endeavour and innovation beyond repair'.
The boffins have concluded that mainly owners of back catalogues would be set to profit from the extension, the supply of historically significant music would be reduced, competition will be impeded and prices shall rise and the trade balance will be affected. The open letter can be viewed here.
In other words, McCreevy seems to have had too many glasses of champagne served to him by music industry lobbyists. McCreevy's green paper - which is a different colour than the Financial Times and may or may not be printed on environment friendly paper - said it's very important that knowledge and innovation move freely in the single market.
The paper 'will now focus on how research, science and educational materials are disseminated to the public and whether knowledge is circulating freely in the internal market.' Apart from that, it will also examine if copyright laws are adequate enough to come to grips with the current state of the world. X
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A strategy proposal sent out to the European parliament can be viewed here.
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