EC proposes to increase copyright term

Wednesday July 16, 2008

By Robert Ashton

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy’s long-awaited proposal to extend copyright term has finally been adopted by the EC today.

The extension seeks to extend the term of protection for recorded performances and the record itself from 50 to 95 years. The extended term would benefit performers and producers who could continue earning money over an additional 45 year period.

In addition, the EC has proposed a uniform way of calculating the term of protection for a musical composition, which contains the contributions of several authors. According to the proposed rule, the term of protection of a musical composition shall expire 70 years after the death of the last surviving author, be it the author of the lyrics or the composer of the music.

"I am committed to concentrate all necessary efforts to ensure that performers have a decent income and that there will be a European-based music industry in the years to come," says McCreevy, who signposted the move to increase term in February.

In parallel to this move, the Commission has also adopted a Green Paper on Copyright in the Knowledge Economy. With this Green Paper, the Commission plans to have a structured debate on the long-term future of copyright policy.

In particular, the Green Paper is an attempt to structure the copyright debate as it relates to scientific publishing, the digital preservation of Europe's cultural heritage, orphan works, consumer access to protected works and the special needs for the disabled to participate in the information society.

McCreevy adds, "The copyright measures adopted today should underline that we take a holistic approach when it comes to intellectual property. The proposal on term extension has a strong social component and the Green Paper is deeply embedded in the overall societal and knowledge context".