[Dixielandjazz] Copyright extension in Europe?

[John Farrell]

This worrying piece of news comes from another list :

"the EU, under pressure from the multinational entertainment companies,
is considering lengthening recording copyright terms there beyond the
current
50 years. To what?  Maybe the 95 years that is embedded in federal law in
the U.S.?
(State law extends that even further.)  Maybe make it retroactive?"

James Purnell (rot his socks), the UK's Minister for Creative Industries
(www.jamespurnell.labour.co.uk)
has said that he will push this during his EU term in 2006. He wouldn't be
on the multinationals' payroll, would he? Naaaah - politicians are
incorruptible, they lie awake at night worrying about the well-being of
their constituents.

The correspondent went on to say :

"Starting next year, the first recordings of Elvis Presley fall into the
public
domain in the EU and Canada ... and Sony/BMG starts to lose their firm
grip on one of their most profitable cash cows"

No doubt Mr. Purnell will do his best to save the day for poor downtrodden
little Sony.

John Farrell
http://homepages.tesco.net/~stridepiano/midifiles.htm