EU TO HELP MUSIC COMPANIES KEEP BEATLES ROYALTIES

Artists and consumer groups are up in arms as the EU comes closer to agreeing a 20-year extension of copyright on music recorded before the 1960s. Critics argue that while record companies keep their profits high, artists will lose out.

BACKGROUND

Music copyright should enter the public domain 50 years after a recording was originally made. In 2008 the European Commission adopted a proposal to extend copyright terms to 95 years.

In 2009 significant moves were made at a European level when former EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy and the European Parliament began backing an extension to 70 Years.

Record companies have managed to reap high profits thanks to the back catalogues of many popular artists. To perpetuate their gain, they have been lobbying the EU to prevent the copyright of golden oldies from running out.

It seems their efforts are paying off as the EU is close to agreeing an extension of music copyright from 50 to 70 years following a first recording, a measure that is angering consumers and artists alike.

"As far as we are concerned this has nothing to do with the protection of authors, but this is about money for big companies and a longer return on investment," Kelvin Smits from Younison, the EU's first pressure group of musicians, told EurActiv.

Smits argued the term extension was about making sure recording companies could still make money from early high value works like Elvis Presley and The Beatles, whose copyright is approaching expiry.

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