European Union Seeks Longer Music Copyrights

European Union Seeks Longer Music Copyrights

By STEPHEN CASTLE

Published: February 15, 2008

BRUSSELS — The European Union said Thursday that it would seek to extend copyright protection for singers and musicians to 95 years — rather than the current 50 — in a move intended to let performers receive royalty payments later in life.

The proposals, made by Charlie McCreevy, the commissioner for the internal market, would extend to performers the entitlements to royalty payments already received by their counterparts in the United States, and by composers in Europe, most of whom have 70 years of copyright protection.

Mr. McCreevy said that 50 years of copyright protection did not give artists a guaranteed lifetime income.

“If nothing is done, thousands of European performers who recorded in the late 1950s and 1960s will lose all of their airplay royalties over the next 10 years,” Mr. McCreevy said.

Royalties often make up the “sole pension” for artists, he said, and the loss of them could come during “the most vulnerable period of their lives.”

The proposal, which needs approval from governments in the European Union as well as the European Parliament, is intended to benefit not just big-name artists but session musicians and lesser-known performers as well.

The European Commission said a survey that it conducted showed that many European performers or singers started their careers in their early 20s. Session musicians, who were not members of a band, often began performing at 17. These individuals would be in their 70s when copyright protection ended.

The proposals were widely welcomed by the music industry.

John Smith, president of the International Federation of Musicians, said, “This is great news for thousands of musicians, and we are especially delighted that the commission has acted to benefit session musicians.”

The commission also wants to revisit a reform of copyright levies charged on blank discs, data storage and music and video players. The charges, which vary widely among European countries, help to compensate artists and copyright holders for legal copying of their material. In 2006, Mr. McCreevy tried and failed to reorganize the copyright levy system, running into opposition from the French government.