Cliff Richard calls for music copyright change
2006/4/20
LONDON, Reuters
Veteran British rocker Cliff Richard has called for a change to Britain's music copyright laws to extend the protection for artists beyond the current 50-year limit.
The performer of such hits as "Living Doll", "Bachelor Boy" and "Summer Holiday" says it is unfair that while singers are only protected for 50 years, songwriters are rewarded for their lifetime plus another 70 years.
In two to three years' time, Richard's earliest hits from 1958 could lose copyright protection. Last year, Elvis Presley's record label re-released his British No. 1 hits over consecutive weeks to cash in ahead of the deadline.
In Europe, once copyright lapses any organization using Richard's early songs -- a radio station for example -- will no longer have to pay him royalties.
"I know as a singer I need the writers but they need us," Richard, 65, told BBC Radio on Tuesday. "What we want from a song is for life, for the rest of your performing career.
"The fact is that if this continues to happen... artists will not be able to afford to make an album. You have to make a certain amount of money to pay for the sessions."
He added that while he was fortunate to still be a major selling artist, other lesser-known singers would lose out on what in some cases was effectively their pension.
Friday is the deadline for submissions to the British government before it reviews intellectual property which includes sound copyright.
Matt Phillips, spokesman for Britain's record industry association the British Phonographic Industry, said the copyright law jeopardized investment in future talent.
"We are calling for the term to be brought into line with the term afforded to the songwriters," he said.
He added that the United States had extended copyright protection for sound recordings following a similar campaign led by the late singer Sonny Bono.
Full Version: Wired for £sound
|
|
|
| QUOTE (Gary @ Apr 22 2006, 07:54 AM) |
| "The fact is that if this continues to happen... artists will not be able to afford to make an album. You have to make a certain amount of money to pay for the sessions." |
Yeah right, he's only concerned that his own income will drop. It's not as if he hasn't got enough money already! Maybe we should start a campaign to get him to donate some of his royalties to a fund for those poor one hit wonders that he's so worried about.
I thought that he did quite a fair bit of charity giving?
yes he does alot of charity work.......as i know him personally through my main job.....i can understand everything he is saying....and anyone in thier right mind would worry about their royalties and cost of making a cd...gettin more expensive these days!!
jules
jules
| QUOTE (Electrofreek @ Apr 22 2006, 09:49 PM) |
| and anyone in thier right mind would worry about their royalties and cost of making a cd...gettin more expensive these days!! jules |
Not half as expensive as buying the
things!!!!!!! 
Meanwhile, in a related development, the British monarchy has launched a Class A civil suit against 1,000 US publishing houses looking for royalty payments for the King James Bible.
"It's totally unfair that these publishers can market the world's best-selling book with no consideration for the original developers. Maintaining a United Kingdom is very expensive these days and consideration should be given to us for all the work we have done in the past in simplifying this great product." said a spokesman for the British Royal Family.
Where does this end?
"It's totally unfair that these publishers can market the world's best-selling book with no consideration for the original developers. Maintaining a United Kingdom is very expensive these days and consideration should be given to us for all the work we have done in the past in simplifying this great product." said a spokesman for the British Royal Family.
Where does this end?
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.