Europe to extend music copyright EC proposes extension to 95 years By IAN MUNDELL BRUSSELS - Plans to extend European performers' copyright protection from 50 to 95 years will be put forward by the European Commission before the summer.
The aim is to ensure that airplay royalties continue at least for the lifetime of the performer, whether they are stars or unknown session musicians.
Charlie McCreevy, the commissioner responsible, said Thursday that record companies will be required to set up a fund reserving at least 20% of the income during the extended copyright term to session musicians.
For featured artists, original advances would no longer be set off against royalties in the extended term. The artist would get the lot.
The proposals will also contain a "use it or lose it" provision: if a record company is unwilling to re-release a performance during the extended term, the performer can move to another label.
The commission judges that its plan will not have a negative impact on
consumer prices, and that most of the additional revenue collected would
stay in Europe.