---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Deniel Leech-Wilkinson <[log in to unmask]>
Many list members may have read of the looming threat to extend copyright
in recordings from 50 to 90 or 95 years. The idea was floated again
recently in a Times article trailing a speech by the Minsiter for Creative
Industries, James Purnell. The Minister made no mention of the idea in his
speech, but we can assume that the Deputy Political Editor of The Times
was reporting what he'd heard in conversation with him.
(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1641428,00.html. The speech
is at http://www.culture.gov.uk/creative_industries/)
At present, copyright in recordings (though not in the music recorded)
expires 50 years from the end of the year in which the recording was first
issued. That means that now all UK recordings made up to the end of 1954
are out of copyright. It's why we've enjoyed such an explosion of interest
in historic performances, reissued on so many excellent small labels. The
big companies have not, on the whole, shown any great interest until now;
but as rock'n'roll and then 60s pop come out of copyright the whole
picture looks quite different to them, and they've been lobbying behind
the scenes to get copyright extended throughout the EU. Mr Purnell's
suggestion is intended to test the water for the UK's response. His
provisional line is that the big companies need continuing income from
their back catalogue in order to take risks on new bands.
I'm sure most list members will be horrified at the idea. *But there is
something we can do.* The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has set
up an online discussion forum for responses to Mr Purnell's speech. I've
recently put up a message ('Copyright in recordings'), and it would be
very helpful if anyone who has similar views would add them.
Subscribing to the discussion forum isn't entirely straightforward. You
send an email to [log in to unmask], giving your name and asking
to subscribe. After a few days you get a response -- from a real person --
giving you a username and password. Messages can be pasted in with HTML
formatting or as plain text. Curiously it's also possible to edit other
people's messages, but I don't think that's what they intend...
Well-argued cases could make a real difference, so please contribute if
you feel you can.
Many thanks,
Dan
Professor Daniel Leech-Wilkinson
Associate Director
Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music
Department of Music, King's College
Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
[ Part 3: "Included Message" ]
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 14:54:32 +0100
From: Daniel Leech-Wilkinson <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask]
Subject: Copyright threat
Many list members may have read of the looming threat to extend copyright
in recordings from 50 to 90 or 95 years. The idea was floated again
recently in a Times article trailing a speech by the Minsiter for Creative
Industries, James Purnell. The Minister made no mention of the idea in his
speech, but we can assume that the Deputy Political Editor of The Times was
reporting what he'd heard in conversation with him.
(http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1641428,00.html. The speech
is at http://www.culture.gov.uk/creative_industries/)
At present, copyright in recordings (though not in the music recorded)
expires 50 years from the end of the year in which the recording was first
issued. That means that now all UK recordings made up to the end of 1954
are out of copyright. It's why we've enjoyed such an explosion of interest
in historic performances, reissued on so many excellent small labels. The
big companies have not, on the whole, shown any great interest until now;
but as rock'n'roll and then 60s pop come out of copyright the whole picture
looks quite different to them, and they've been lobbying behind the scenes
to get copyright extended throughout the EU. Mr Purnell's suggestion is
intended to test the water for the UK's response. His provisional line is
that the big companies need continuing income from their back catalogue in
order to take risks on new bands.
I'm sure most list members will be horrified at the idea. *But there is
something we can do.* The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has set
up an online discussion forum for responses to Mr Purnell's speech. I've
recently put up a message ('Copyright in recordings'), and it would be very
helpful if anyone who has similar views would add them.
Subscribing to the discussion forum isn't entirely straightforward. You
send an email to [log in to unmask], giving your name and asking to
subscribe. After a few days you get a response -- from a real person --
giving you a username and password. Messages can be pasted in with HTML
formatting or as plain text. Curiously it's also possible to edit other
people's messages, but I don't think that's what they intend...
Well-argued cases could make a real difference, so please contribute if you
feel you can.
Many thanks,
Dan
Professor Daniel Leech-Wilkinson
Associate Director
Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music
Department of Music, King's College
Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK
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