MRG Supports European Copyright Proposal

The European Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is proposing to extend copyright for sound recordings from 50 to 95 years, in a move welcomed by the Music Producers Guild (UK).
The MPG is now lobbying to ensure that this opportunity can equally be used to recognise the role of the studio/performing producer.
MPG founder, Robin Millar, said: “We want to make sure that performer royalties are consistently applied so that studio producers, whom all UK music bodies and many overseas bodies now recognise as entitled to a share of these royalties, are not overlooked due to any changes of definition that might be undertaken as a result of the extended term. It is vital that overseas as well as domestic revenues that should compensate the performing producer’s role apply across all European borders.”
Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy was prompted to act on behalf of European performers because, unless copyright is extended, thousands of performers who recorded in the late fifties and sixties will lose all of their airplay royalties over the next ten years. For many, this income is their sole pension.
Commissioner McCreevy stated: "I strongly believe that copyright protection for Europe's performers represents a moral right to control the use of their work and earn a living from their performances. I have not seen a convincing reason why a composer of music should benefit from a term of copyright which extends to the composer's life and 70 years beyond, while the performer should only enjoy 50 years, often not even covering his lifetime It is the performer who gives life to the composition and while most of us have no idea who wrote our favourite song – we can usually name the performer."
The MPG supports the work of PPL/VPL, which has lobbied for these changes, and will continue to lend its weight to the campaign.
The proposal should be ready for adoption by the Commission by the summer.
(DS)