Former Runrigger, and current MP for Perth, Pete Wishart, has announced he will this week put forward a Private Members Bill in Parliament proposing an extendsion in the copyright term on recordings or, as the official statement on the matter puts it, "to end the discrimination against musicians".
As much previously reported, the copyright term on recordings in the UK is currently fifty years. Someway behind the 95 year term that exists in the US and, more to the point, someway behind the life plus seventy years enjoyed by songwriters (and all writers for that matter). As also previously reported, the record industry has been busy lobbying the government to amend copyright laws to boost the recording copyright term, not least because the copyright on all sorts of rock n roll songs from the late fifties is about to run out. Although there has been some support in political circles for the term extension, the Gowers Report on intellectual property, commissioned by then Chancellor Of The Exchequer Gordon Brown, ruled no extension could be justified.
But Wishart is hoping to get an extension through Parliament nevertheless. Giving the rationale for what could be seen as a somewhat self seeking Bill (Wishart being a former musician himself), the MP said in a statement: "This Bill is all about parity and fairness for musicians. Why should writers, composers, even the guy that designed the record sleeve secure royalties for life, plus 70 years for their creations, but musicians receive nothing beyond 50 years? After the amazing boom in UK recorded music in the 1950s and the 1960s, many of these recording artists are still alive and face the prospect of having the income from their work stop and even face watching others gain from what they created. The UK's music industry is the envy of the world. Our creative industries are now taking over from financial services as a mainstay of our economy. To remain successful we have to re-invest and prepare the stars of the future. On copyright term, the UK is already at a competitive disadvantage to the United States. We must send out the signal to the world that we value our artists and we are prepared to reward investors".
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the boss of record industry trade body the BPI, Geoff Taylor, welcomed the private members bill, telling reporters: "We are delighted that Pete Wishart has chosen to make sound recording copyright the subject of his Private Member's Bill. His proposal highlights the continued unfairness at the heart of music copyright, in which recording artists and record companies are not treated equally with other creators. Whilst the debate on reform continues in Brussels, Pete's Bill will keep the issue front of mind for policy-makers in Westminster. It also underlines the cross-party support there is for this measure. We wish him every success with it".
Meanwhile Fran Nevrkla, boss of recorded royalties body PPL, added: "Musicians and record labels have for too long been treated as second class creators. MPs from all parties, including the Culture Select Committee, are now recognising this inequality and Peter Wishart's Bill is the first step in closing the copyright gap. We welcome this Bill and look forward to a time when performers and producers can enjoy an equal footing in copyright along with other creators".