Extension of music copyright not fit for the future

4.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 23rd Apr 2009

Sharon Bowles MEP, ALDE Shadow Rapporteur for the Crowley Report on Term of Protection and Related Rights, today expressed her hope that the large number of MEPs who voted for rejection of the extension of copyright for audio recordings will send a strong message to the Council of the European Union that this measure is not fit for the future. At present there is a blocking minority in the Council.

'This proposal was well-intentioned, but it would extend a system whose contracts and structures are tied to the past.

'The very least it should have done is address the problems of long-term contracts without the possibility of revision, which leaves recording companies with the lion's share of everything, even when they no longer have to cover expensive production and distribution costs. In the debate last night the Commissioner said, in response to me, that the issue of contracts could possibly be returned to later, but I fear that if they are not addressed in this package the leverage to do so will be gone.

'This is a proposal that still needs much more work done on it, which is why I voted against. We should not make an irreversible change before we have developed more performer-centred and future proof proposals.'

Andrew Duff MEP, who also campaigned against the proposal, said: 'Europe must stop putting more obstacles in the way of consumer choice. The Commission has been far too weak in giving in to pressure from big business. We should now look at how we can really help performers without penalising those who enjoy music.'