Fair Play for Musicians in Europe

Just before Christmas, the UK Government announced a change of heart on copyright term. In his speech to the Creators' Conference, Andy Burnham revealed that they have now accepted that the term should be extended in principle, although they still fall short of offering performers parity with other creators. This announcement followed the delivery of the video message to the Prime Minister and other lobbying from musicians, PPL and others in the industry.

The Copyright Term Directive, drafted by the European Commission, proposes a copyright term of 95 years to bring musicians in line with other creators. This has the backing of the French and German governments and numerous MEPs. PPL will continue to talk to the UK Government about giving its full backing to the 95 years proposed in the draft Directive.

The debate is now shifting to Europe where the draft Copyright Term Directive is going through the various committee stages. There are two crucial votes coming up in the European Parliament, where a number of MEPs (Members of the European Parliament) have already declared that they are in favour of a fair copyright term for performers and producers. In recent official Reports from committees, MEPs have pointed out that:

Performers get a much shorter copyright term than other creators – composers, authors, lyricists, graphic artists and photographers.

Performers are as crucial as other creators in making a record.

Royalties from recordings (such as those from PPL for airplay) from recordings are important to musicians, however large or small.

There is no effect on consumers. For example iTunes charge the same price for in- and out-of-copyright recordings).

When recordings go out of copyright, others profit but the performers get nothing.

The draft Copyright Term Directive would increase the copyright term for both performers and producers to 95 years from release (the same as the USA and on a par with other creators who get life plus seventy years).

There is a list of MEPs who are supporting the draft Directive here. If you learn of other MEPs giving their backing, please let us know by emailing  dominic.mcgonigal@ppluk.com.

Image courtesty of Rockcohen under the Creative Commons Licence