Song Copyrights and Patents

Greedy song-writers and performers are negotiating an extension of the
50 years (yes 50 years should be enough! - patents get 20 years after
all).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7511224.stm


Ageing rock stars and session musicians will keep receiving royalties
for their old recordings for the rest of their lives under a European
Union plan.

Performers currently lose the rights to their recordings after 50
years.

Veteran artists like Sir Cliff Richard and Roger Daltrey are among
those who have campaigned for it to be extended.

The EU has now announced a scheme for copyright on recordings to last
for 95 years. EU governments and the European Parliament still need to
give approval.

Under the current regime, the first rock 'n' roll recordings will go
out of copyright in the coming years.

That means performers, producers and record labels would no longer get
paid for sales or airplay, and the songs could be released cheaply by
any record label.

Sir Cliff's first hits will go out of copyright on 1 January next
year, while The Beatles' catalogue will start to enter the public
domain in 2013.

Sir Paul McCartney and U2 have also spoken out in favour of extending
the copyright.

But the EU plan is potentially more im****tant for the thousands of
lesser-known band members, session musicians and producers who may be
in greater need of an income during their retirement.

The proposals were unveiled by European Commission Single Market
Commissioner Charlie McCreevy.

"A 95-year term would bridge the income gap that performers face when
they turn 70, just as their early performances recorded in their 20s
would lose protection," his scheme said.
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Well blow me down with a feather! The poor wee souls have no money to
rake in in their 70s! What about Engineers and Scientists who make
real contributions to society.


K.