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Re: [ARSCLIST] Fw: [78-l] Read it and Weap
Well...keep in mind that the majority of popular recordings originate...
and always HAVE originated, since c.1920...in the US of A! Here, the
controlling group, RIAA, used various semi-licit methods to get a
pseudo-eternal copyright term enacted in law for any sound recording!
In fact, if some fortunate resident of New Jersey should happen to
discover the original recording of Thomas Edison's recitation of
"Mary Had a Little Lamb"...it would be another 59-7/12 years before
that sound could legally be made available to the public!
Given the connections and economic influence of the US in the recorded-
music industry, the equivalent bodies in other lands look enviously at
this situation...and do their best to get equivalent legislation
enacted...
It would be interesting to know EXACTLY how many copies of the applicable
recordings of Sir Cliff were sold so far in 2007...and how much
he received in royalties therefrom...!
In fact, are they still in any available "catalog?" Keep in mind that
if the copyright term is extended to 95 years...should his recordings
be deleted from the issuing label's catalog, neither he nor anyone
else can make them available...!
Then, we get into an interesting legal problem! IF I make a copy of
a sound recording when it is still p.d. under then-existing law, am
I then "grandfathered" into being able to sell same? After all, it
was quite legal when I made it...
The net effect of extending the British copyright on sound recordings
to 95 years will be to make 45 years' worth of British sonic history
available only to the mere handful who own, and can play, a copy of
the original recording in question! The copyright owners, not seeing
a promise of the huge sales/profits they are/were used to, are very
unlikely to make it available...meanwhile, anyone else who sees fit
to do so will be chased down and severely punished just to make an
example of what happens to "Evil Communist Violators Of Copyright"...!
"FEH!" quoth I...
Steven C. Barr