[A2k] UK anti copyright term extension campaign

Tue Nov 7 10:16:03 2006

Press release also available at:
http://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/release-the-music-briefing/

Briefing text online at:
http://www.releasethemusic.org/press/briefing-pack/

For more information, contact:
michael@openrightsgroup.org
Tel: +44 (0)20 7096 1079

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

6 November 2006

A handful of major record labels are trying to break a fifty year-old
promise. Musicians and their fans will not be the only victims.

A multinational industry with privileged access to the UK government
is seeking an extension to the term of copyright protection given to
sound recordings. They claim it will boost Britain's chances in the
"knowledge economy". The evidence says otherwise.

At the moment, sound recordings are protected for 50 years, but the
music industry would like this term to be significantly extended to 95
years or even 'life plus 70 years' (the same term as for the
underlying composition).

Leading New Labour thinktank the Institute for Public Policy Research
labelled this proposal "economically illogical" and "anti-competitive"
in their recent report, Public Innovation: Intellectual Property in a
Digital Age.

Contrary to music industry claims, term extension won't help the vast
majority of recording artists. It will leave innovative independent
record labels at a significant disadvantage, and could destroy the
British Library Sound Archive. Furthermore, it will make almost no
contribution to UK GDP.

The Open Rights Group has prepared a briefing on term extension,
 and has organised a day of events to draw attention to the
issue on 13 November.

Journalists' Q&A
You are invited to discuss the evidence against extending copyright
terms on sound recordings with Becky Hogge, campaigning intellectual
property journalist, and Suw Charman, director of ORG on Nov 13, 2006
from 2pm at Magnatune (51 Long Acre, Covent Garden). Please sign up at
http://releasethemusicpress.eventbrite.com/

Public Debate
Please join Professor Jonathan Zittrain (Oxford University), John
Howkins (RSA), Dave Rowntree (Blur), Martin Talbot (Music Week),
Caroline Wilson (Southampton Law School) and others to debate term
extension, on Nov 13, 2006 from 6pm at Conway Hall, Holborn. Please
sign up at http://releasethemusic.eventbrite.com/

Notes for Editors
The Open Rights Group is a digital rights advocacy group based in the
UK. It aims to increase awareness of digital rights issues, help
foster grassroots activity and to preserve and extend civil liberties
in the digital age.

For more information, contact:

michael@openrightsgroup.org
Tel: +44 (0)20 7096 1079
www.openrightsgroup.org
www.releasethemusic.org

--
Michelle Childs -Head of European Affairs
Consumer Project on Technology in London
24, Highbury Crescent, London, N5 1RX,UK.
Tel:+44(0)207 226 6663 ex 252.
Mob:+44(0)790 386 4642. Fax: +44(0)207 354 0607
http://www.cptech.org

Consumer Project on Technology in Washington, DC
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA .Tel.:
+1.202.332.2670,Fax: +1.202.332.2673

Consumer Project on Technology in Geneva
1 Route des  Morillons, CP 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Tel: +41 22 791 6727