The boss of the UK's recording royalties collecting society, PPL, yesterday pledged to continue fighting for an extension of the recorded copyright term in the UK and EU, adding that the record industry would start lobbying our new Prime Minister as soon as he's in the job over the issue, even though it was said new Prime Minister who commissioned the recent report that said a copyright extension can't be justified.
As much, much previously reported, PPL is one of the organisations leading the campaign to have the current UK recorded music copyright term increased from the current fifty years. The campaign is focused mainly on the discrepancies between recorded music copyrights and those of songwriters and other creators, who enjoy a copyright term of life plus seventy years.
Speaking at PPL's AGM in London, the society's chief, Fran Nevrkla, said: "Can it really be right that not only the written music and lyrics but all the artwork and other images and designs featured on a CD's packaging are protected throughout the life of each creator plus 70 years, whilst the actual recorded performances, which are the main reason for the product being made available in the first place, lose all protection only 50 years after first release?" Some might argue that 'yes it can be really right', but Nevrkla, obviously, would disagree. He concluded: "This cannot be right and there is not justification for it. So what do we do? We fight on".
Of course, the campaign for extending the copyright term was dealt a blow at the end of last year when the Gowers Review of copyright laws which, as I say, was commissioned by PM in waiting Gordon Brown, said that it did not feel an extension could be justified. But the record industry is hoping to capitalise on a recent report by the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee which dismissed the Gowers Report's findings and supported an extension.
Needless to say, Nevrkla praised that second report, telling his AGM: "The thoroughness, methodical approach and intellectual rigour which shines through this document is in sharp contrast with the results of other similar processes in recent times".
On winning the support of the new PM, Nevrkla continued: "Let us hope that the soon-to-be-appointed new British Prime Minister will listen too. Our message to our new Prime Minister will be: congratulations on your new post and we are here to help you turn your words into action by showing your support for British musicians, the creative industries and enterprise. By accepting the recommendation of the Culture Select Committee, you will allow our industry to continue to contribute to the creative economy in the upward economic and cultural growth of UK plc".
The PPL AGM also confirmed that last year saw the society score its best-ever license fee income, up 13% to £97.8 million. Obviously losing the copyright on those early fifties releases is having a big impact.