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"Same poor musician in the retirement home loosing their income as before -- then why not life of the performer rather than a set time....HSM"
EU lawmaker confident of music copyright deal
By Huw Jones
STRASBOURG, France, April 21 (Reuters) - A deal that will win over a blocking minority among European Union member states and extend copyright for musicians and producers in the EU is close to being agreed, a senior lawmaker said on Tuesday.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy has proposed prolonging copyright for musicians and producers to 95 years, from 50 at present, putting them on an equal footing with authors.
Brian Crowley, the Irish lawmaker who is steering the measure through parliament, told Reuters: "I think to get agreement with EU states we have to come down to 70 years, and I think we can get a majority in parliament on that."
Such a deal would ensure that early hits by singers such as Britain's Cliff Richard would remain protected during his lifetime. The European Parliament and EU states have joint say on adopting the measure into law.
"We are hoping to get a first reading deal. I am very confident, as we have taken many of the concerns of member states on board," Crowley said.
"When you look at the human aspect, the arguments are very convincing," he said.
Several countries such as Britain, Romania, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have held out against the extension, arguing it would restrict creativity or pull non-copyright material back under copyright rules.
McCreevy has said it was unfair that musicians, particularly session musicians, lose rights after 50 years and face a cash-strapped retirement when authors enjoy protection and continued royalties for much longer.
The rules would also set up a new fund for session musicians. For example, the person who played the cello on the famous Beatles track, Eleanor Rigby, would benefit from the new rules, Crowley said.
"If there is a united voice in parliament, the council (of EU states) will have no other option but to respond in a positive way and endorse the agreement in parliament," Crowley said.
The new rules would also give musicians the same rights as producers.
Parliament will debate the measure on Wednesday evening and holds its vote on Thursday.
"The reality is if we don't get a majority in parliament, then the proposal will ultimately die," Crowley said. (Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by Andrew Macdonald)
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