Seems that British companies are starting to be more concerned with copyright. In 2013 the copyright on some huge selling works from the Beatles and Elvis will come up. The copyright is 50 years and record companies are starting to get scared so they are proposing extending the copyright to 95 years. That will show 'em.
"The argument for the extension of copyright is often presented as win-win situation for all. If we do not extend copyright, then the Beatles' sound recordings could be packaged and released by anybody, and the recording artists would not receive any money from future sales of the songs they recorded and made popular."
Except, the article points out that's bull (not in so many words). See it's the specific recording that has a 50 year copyright. The "original work belonging to the songwriter lasts for the length of their lives plus 70 years." So they're pretty safe. And the consumers will benefit from multiple sources offering the work and being able to compete on price. So the only loser is the record company, which really, just got 50 years to be able to profit from the work so I don't feel too sorry for them.
Copyright is limited so that at after a fair period of time, others can borrow and create from the work. If the record companies got their extension to 95 years, do you think in 2058 they wouldn't be complaining again?
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