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UK Copyright to stay at 50 years

Posted by Andrew Duffell on 13:12, 27/11/2006
Sound and music, Copyright

Recently the BPI and Sir Cliff Richard have campaigned to extend the copyright period for music recordings from 50 years to 95 years. The UK government commissioned an independent review that is now recommending that the terms should not be extended.

If the government accepts the review, then in 2008 Mr Richard's earliest songs will come out of copyright, and in 2013 early Beatles records will be royalty free.

However, bad news for Sir Cliff means good news for the older generation of music fans.

	UK Copyright stays at 50 years
	rich (13:30 27/11/2006) ad (13:37 27/11/2006) SimonC (13:42 27/11/2006) monkeyson2 (13:45 27/11/2006) flibble (16:32 29/11/2006)

Richard Goodwin	Message #94431, posted by rich at 13:30, 27/11/2006
Dictator for life Posts: 6828	50 years, innit? http://business.guardian.co.uk/economicdispatch/story/0,,1955274,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1 ________ Cheers, Rich.
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GuestX	Message #94432, posted by guestx at 13:32, 27/11/2006
Member Posts: 102	Ah yes, Sir Cliff and the BPI lobby for the right to keep their noses in the trough, all under the pretense that they're really looking after those poorly paid sessions musicians.
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Andrew Duffell	Message #94434, posted by ad at 13:37, 27/11/2006, in reply to message #94431
Prints of Yarm Posts: 3262	50 years, innit? That's what it says
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Simon Challands	Message #94437, posted by SimonC at 13:42, 27/11/2006, in reply to message #94434
Right on, Commander! Posts: 398	Main article title says 50, forum entry thingummy says 40. What's the argument for extending it, beyond "I want to keep raking cash in for something I did a hell of a long time ago"? It'll probably be something along the lines of them not wanting others making a pile of cash without having even put a bit of effort in ages ago, which is understandable, but a smokescreen (because it's not likely to happen).
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Phil Mellor	Message #94438, posted by monkeyson2 at 13:45, 27/11/2006, in reply to message #94437
Please don't let them make me be a monkey butler monkeyson.info Posts: 12380	If the government accepts the review, then in 2008 Mr Richard's earliest songs will come out of copyright, and in 2013 early Beatles records will be royalty free. Well, it will make a change from hearing Greensleeves when you're put on hold.
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Peter Howkins	Message #94735, posted by flibble at 16:32, 29/11/2006, in reply to message #94431
Posts: 892	50 years ago people knew that copyright was 50 years long. They always had the choice to not release it. I'm glad it's not being extended.
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