UK rejects music copyright extension

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

Source: Reuters

The British government rejected a plea to extend copyright laws for sound recordings to beyond 50 years on Tuesday, prompting the music industry to accuse it of not supporting musicians and artists.

The music industry had won support from opposition politicians and a parliamentary committee in its bid for a copyright extension that would allow veterans such as Cliff Richard and Paul McCartney to carry on receiving royalties in later life.

The government would have had to push the European Commission for a change in the law but said such a move did not seem appropriate as it would not benefit the majority of performers and could lead to increased costs.

"The UK is a world-beating source of great music, so it is frustrating that on the issue of copyright term the government has shown scant respect for British artists and the UK recording industry," John Kennedy, head of the IFPI body which represents the international recording industry, said in a statement.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070724/wr_nm/britain_copyright_dc_1&printer=1%3B_ylt=AuVsO3eWh_sRbZq6itU5i3sh2.cA

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To the UK Copyright Nazis, I say this:

[Lautremont]

1. This means Spike Jones' 1957 recording of 'The Hut Sut Song'

is mine! All mine! Well, and yours too.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Forgotten your equivalent

of the UK's Performing Rights Society. What is it ?

[Lautremont]

5. Well, I'm not sure.

I'm in Canada, not the US, but I'm not even sure what it is here. SOCAN, I think? Which would make it ASCAP or one of those in the States. But maybe I'm thinking of the wrong kind of organizations. Anyway, I do know that the Canadian copyright law is similar to that of the UK, with the fifty years and all.

[dipsydoodle]

2. There is another side to this.

It allows more music into public domain and hence removes the risk of the getting hit by the Performance Rights Nazis

[acmavm]

4. Yeah, we all know old Paul needs the money.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Yeah - copyright helps lesser known writers in the initial years

when there's some chance their work gets recorded and performed a bit. But after 50 years, it's really only the very successful ones who'll still get appreciable amounts - and they are unlikely to need it.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

9. Bingo. -nt

[Solon]

7. An Yet, in the United States, the Song, "Happy Birthday to You" is still under copyright, since 1935

the copyright isn't set to expire until 2030. That's frankly fucked up, to put it mildly.

[truebrit71]

8. NICE one!!

Cry Mia River!!!

"Goll-ee Mister Taggert, you use your tongue purrdier than a twenty dollar whore."

Made me smile...thanks for that!