[Ecommerce] Re: [A2k] UK Gowers leak - copyright term not extended?

[John Howkins]

This report has been picked by a WIPO official at the World Cultural Forum
as having some truth though, as Michelle says, it is only a leak.
John


On 28/11/06 9:57 am, "Michelle Childs" <michelle.childs@cptech.org> wrote:

>
> Please note that it has been reported that the UK has decided NOT to
> extend the copyright term for sound recordings. This is  NOT the case. It
> is a leak from a review that the Treasury has set up to review IP rights (
> the Gowers Review). While encouraging we need to wait to see if this
> recommendation makes it into the final report. Eevn if it does it is then
> up to the the UK Government to decide if they will follow the
> recommendation , although obviously it would be difficult to ignore the
> recommendation, though this has happened before.
>
> As the UK digital rights advocacy group recommends in the press release
> below, it is important that advocacy activities are continued.
>
> Michelle
> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: PRESS RELEASE: Gowers leak - copyright term not extended
> From:    "Suw Charman" <suw@openrightsgroup.org>
> Date:    Mon, November 27, 2006 9:48 am
> To:      "Michael Holloway" <michael@openrightsgroup.org>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Also online at:
> http://www.openrightsgroup.org/press-releases/gowers-leak-copyright-term-not-e
> xtended/
>
>
> For Immediate Release
> A leak from the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property has indicated
> that the government will reject calls from the music industry to
> lengthen the term of copyright protection given to sound recordings.
> If this is true, we are encouraged and delighted by the news.
>
> As we have argued - alongside the British Library, the IPPR and
> prominent musicians such as Dave Rowntree from Blur - it is essential
> for the vitality of the music industry that they honour the copyright
> bargain they have struck so that both old and new music can flourish.
>
> Such a decision would be a victory for musicians and business alike,
> making it possible for them to re-use, remix, and re-release classic
> old recordings. The public will benefit too, from increased choice in
> the re-release market and from a rich creative environment within
> which contemporary artists can reinvigorate old recordings. And for
> libraries it is essential, allowing them to preserve our cultural
> heritage and provide public access to it without fear of lawsuits or
> crippling copyright clearance fees.
>
> However, until Andrew Gowers' final report is published, we urge
> people to continue writing to their MPs asking them to oppose
> copyright extension, and to sign the Open Rights Group petition at
> http://www.releasethemusic.org/five-minutes/sign-our-petition/
>
> For more information about term extension, please see our briefing pack:
> http://www.releasethemusic.org/press/briefing-pack/
>
> 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
>
>
>
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