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EU Commissioner Proposes 95 year Copyright

Posted by Zonk on from the infinity-plus-a-kabillion dept.

Albanach writes "The European Union Commissioner for the Internal Market has today proposed extending the copyright term for musical recordings to 95 years. He also wishes to investigate options for new levies on blank discs, data storage and music and video players to compensate artists and copyright holders for 'legal copying when listeners burn an extra version of an album to play one at home and one in the car ... People are living longer and 50 years of copyright protection no longer give lifetime income to artists who recorded hits in their late teens or early twenties, he said.'"

4 of 591 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Why? by Laur · · Score: 5, Interesting

    But then, when a successful artist dies in an airplane crash their wife and kids will be bankrupt very soon.
    That's what life insurance is for. Guess what, my employer will stop my paychecks when I die as well. The purpose of copyright is not to provide a legacy so your wife and kids will never have to do any productive work.
    --
    When you lose something irreplaceable, you don't mourn for the thing you lost, you mourn for yourself. - Harpo Marx
  2. Re:The stupid. It burns. by alext · · Score: 3, Interesting

    McCreevy is a Commissioner for the Irish Republic. He has previous form in attempting to impose US-style software patents in the EU.

    Previously Ireland finance minister, his basic position is whatever is good for big business is good for the EU.

  3. Re:Sweet! by eiapoce · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Answer is: Stop paying for music. Once they run out of money they will have no way of corrupting our goverment into these laws.

  4. A Little More Info On the Ex-TD by ObsessiveMathsFreak · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Charlie McCreevy is an ex-Irish MP and a chartered accountant whose biggest role was as Minister for Finance in Ireland.


    McCreevy was in fact, sent off to Europe for the express purpose of exiling him from Irish Politics. Even in his own Free Market centric party, his policies were far too Thatcherite to let him continue to make his characteristically brash polemics. He gleefully accepted his "promotion" to European statesman, and his party, and indeed the country, breathed a collective sigh of relief.

    McCreevy has a history of giving tax breaks and other concessions to industries and business that he "approves of". Witness his institution of a 0% tax on bets made at horse race meetings (he's a big fan of the sport). He's a supply sider with little time for anything that doesn't immediately net money i.e., fair use, hospitals, etc. He's been mentioned before on Slashdot here and here. The "loose cannon" quote is particularly apt.

    Charlie McCreevy is the type of politician lobbyists love. He'll wine and dine, brunch and lunch with all manner of industry representatives and indeed has by the looks of things. Rest assured that when he finally steps down from his post (forcing him out will require tectonic pressure) the entire European Parliment, and Union, will breath a collective sigh of relief.
    --
    May the Maths Be with you!