Press Release: ‘Performing artists – no longer be the ‘poor cousins’ of the music business’ – Charlie McCreevy

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Series Details IP/08/240 (14.02.08)
Publication Date 14/02/2008
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On 14 February, 2008, Commissioner Charlie McCreevy announced his intention to propose to the College that the term of copyright protection for European performers be increased from 50 to 95 years. Summarising the main thrust of the proposal, Commissioner McCreevy stated: 'I strongly believe that copyright protection for Europe's performers represents a moral right to control the use of their work and earn a living from their performances. I have not seen a convincing reason why a composer of music should benefit from a term of copyright which extends to the composer's life and 70 years beyond, while the performer should only enjoy 50 years, often not even covering his lifetime It is the performer who gives life to the composition and while most of us have no idea who wrote our favourite song – we can usually name the performer.'

Source Link http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/08/240&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
Related Links
European Commission: SPEECH/08/76: Extension of term of copyright protection for European performers http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/08/76&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
European Commission: SPEECH/08/75: Copyright Levies http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=SPEECH/08/75&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

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