Re: Message from James Purnell

On Sat, 23 Jul 2005, Tim Ivorson wrote:

> I wonder how much the major labels stand to gain from retroactive
> copyright extension. Wouldn't labels receive the same income from '60s
> recordings, apart from those with public domain lyrics, whether or not =
the
> recordings' copyrights are extended? I find Cliff Richard's position on
> retroactive copyright extension (
> http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/rock_n_roll_swindle.shtml ) easier to
> understand.

I am still trying to understand why anyone should be considered to have a=
=20
right to earn money on a piece of work they completed 50 years ago and=20
from which they have enjoyed 50 years of income.

The fact of the matter is that copyright is a privilege offered by societ=
y=20
not a right in itself. 50 years is a fair time in which to generate rewar=
d=20
from the release of a recording - indeed it's a very long time to do so=20
and anyone whose recordings achieve even a modicum of popularity will hav=
e=20
made a lot of money as will the record companies and other publishers=20
involved.

The claim that this is the legitimate pension fund for a one-hit wonder=20
is disingenious. Should a plumber have a right to earn income for decades=
=20
off of the installation of pipes into a building?

Is the situation really so very different? Why should someone who had one=
=20
or two hit records in the 50s, 60s, 70, 80s, etc and who enjoyed income=20
from that in all the years since not have the same responsibility over=20
that period of time to made provision for their pension. Certainly they=20
would have been able to develop another career and earn a living from tha=
t=20
as well.

We're in danger of creating a new social class just for people who've had=
=20
a taste of celebrity as though that were some specifically noble thing=20
that genuinely set a person aside from the rest of society for the rest o=
f=20
their life if we continue down the road of accepting that they deserve=20
special consideration beyond the extremely generous consideration they=20
already receive over the term of copyright as it currently is.

Jason Clifford
--=20
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http://www.ukfsn.org/	 2Mb ADSL Broadband from just =A314.98 / month=20