February 04, 2009

By By Andre Paine, London

David Lammy, the minister for higher education and intellectual property, voiced his support on term extension during a parliamentary meeting with musicians organized by U.K. performers' licensing body PPL.

The copyright term meeting in committee room 12 in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by MP Michael Connarty, co-chair of the Parliamentary Jazz Appreciation Group, was a chance for musicians, politicians and PPL representatives to discuss the issue ahead of debates on the Copyright Term Directive in the European Council of Ministers.

The French and German governments are backing an increase in copyright term from 50 to 95 years, although the U.K. government has only shifted its position as far as a 70-year term. Culture secretary Andy Burnham recently outlined the government's new position.

At the PPL meeting on Monday night, Lammy confirmed that the government had accepted the arguments for extending copyright term, stating that he wants to see the "best interests of performers met by the Directive." He didn't specify a 70-year or 95-year term.

Last month Lammy produced an angry response from the U.K. labels' trade body the BPI, when he compared people illegally downloading music online to hotel guests removing bars of soap when they check out.

There were also appearances by Culture select committee chairman John Whittingdale, who backs term extension, and former culture minister Chris Smith.

Pat Halling, the violinist on "Eleanor Rigby," performed live during the parliamentary meeting. His appearance underlined the fact that the Beatles' song will be out of copyright within seven years under the current legislation.

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