COPYRIGHT TERM FOR PERFORMERS

That this House welcomes the proposal by the EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services that copyright terms for sound recordings should be extended from the current 50 years to 95 years; notes that performers will be the main beneficiaries of an extension through the provision of a fund for musicians from the extra money earned in the long-term; further notes that the proposal requires copyright holders to publish their works or else license others to do so, which will ensure that music remains available to consumers; believes that the proposal will mean that British and European musical creativity is properly rewarded and will redress some of the existing unfairness faced by perfomers compared to composers and songwriters in the copyright system while giving European performers the same rights as those enjoyed by performers in most other countries; and calls on the Government to give the proposal its full support at future meetings of the European Council.