The length of copyright for sound recordings and performers rights in sound recordings has increased from 50 to 70 years.
The new rules were implemented by the government on 1 November after being approved by EU member states in September 2011.
The move also includes several additional benefits for recorded performers after 50 years from the publication of the sound recording.
These include a ‘use it or lose it’ clause to enable musicians to claim back their performance rights in sound recordings if they are not being commercially exploited and a session fund to pay performers 20 percent of the sales revenue from their recordings.
Lord Younger, minister for intellectual property, said: ‘The new rules bring lasting benefits for our world class recording artists. These changes demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to, and support for, our creative industries - who are worth billions to our economy.
‘Artists who performed on sound recordings will benefit from this extension of copyright protection from 50 to 70 years. The changes should help ensure that musicians are rewarded for their creativity and hard work throughout their careers.’
The new legislation also harmonises the length of copyright term for co-written works. The copyright term of protection for both the music and lyrics within a co-written work will now expire 70 years after the death of the last surviving author.
The new rules were implemented by the government on 1 November after being approved by EU member states in September 2011.
The move also includes several additional benefits for recorded performers after 50 years from the publication of the sound recording.
These include a ‘use it or lose it’ clause to enable musicians to claim back their performance rights in sound recordings if they are not being commercially exploited and a session fund to pay performers 20 percent of the sales revenue from their recordings.
Lord Younger, minister for intellectual property, said: ‘The new rules bring lasting benefits for our world class recording artists. These changes demonstrate the government’s ongoing commitment to, and support for, our creative industries - who are worth billions to our economy.
‘Artists who performed on sound recordings will benefit from this extension of copyright protection from 50 to 70 years. The changes should help ensure that musicians are rewarded for their creativity and hard work throughout their careers.’
The new legislation also harmonises the length of copyright term for co-written works. The copyright term of protection for both the music and lyrics within a co-written work will now expire 70 years after the death of the last surviving author.
