According to Music Week, plans at a European level to extend the recording copyright term are on track. As previously reported, while the UK government's Gowers Review of copyright laws said the term should remain at the current 50 years, much to the disappointment of recording copyright owners, European Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has proposed an increase to 95 years. As any change in UK law would require European buy-in anyway, moves to extend the term at a European level have been pleasing record company types. McCreevy has previously promised to publish his formal proposals this August, and Music Week say that insiders have told them he is still on schedule to do so. That said, even once the proposals are formally on the table the pro-extension lobby will still have to persuade other EC Commissioners, some of whom represent lobbies who will oppose a longer term, which may not be a breeze.
Jul 8, 2008
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1 min read
Term extension proposal on schedule
European Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is still on schedule to publish proposals to extend the recording copyright term to 95 years, reportedly due in August.