UK Government May Extend Copyright, Despite Saying It Wouldn't
from the well,-how-about-that dept
Back in 2006, you may recall that the UK released the so-called Gowers' Report, which was a look into various issues having to do with copyright law in the UK. I pointed out, at the time, that the report was too balanced for its own good, focusing on how to "balance" one side's views against the other's -- without recognizing there could be paths that made everyone better off. The one thing it got sort of right, was in making it quite clear that extending the length of copyright was a bad, bad idea and totally unnecessary. In fact, Gowers later admitted that he toned down the report, since the actual evidence he found suggested that things would be better if copyright length were shortened -- but he knew suggesting that would lead to screams of outrage from the industry.At first, it appeared the government was going to accept this reasoning, and rejected the idea of extending copyright on performances. However, these sorts of things are never over when it comes the recording industry's lobbying efforts -- and some believe that they've convinced the government to change its mind and revisit copyright extension. How? By playing the sympathy card, focusing on the fact that "performers who were reaching retirement were being deprived of revenue from popular recordings, just when they need the money the most."
This is the "welfare" argument. It's the argument that copyright is some sort of welfare system designed to keep paying musicians for a single performance they did 50 plus years ago. Unfortunately, that's not what copyright is for. It is merely an incentive for the creation of content. If that copyright was enough to get the musicians to perform 50 years ago, then it served its purpose. Extending the copyright after the fact makes absolutely no sense. The fact that some musicians won't still be getting royalties from these performances seems meaningless. They knew the terms of the deal when they did it: they got royalties for 50 years. They had 50 years to save money and do other work to build a nest egg -- just like every other worker in the world. What they're basically asking for is the equivalent of any normal worker going back to his employer from 50 years ago and demanding an additional salary for that work. There is simply no reason to support such efforts.
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Filed Under: copyright, copyright extension, gowers report, uk, welfare
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Oh Geezzzz
Well, if they hadn't stuffed it all up their nose maybe they would have some money left for retirement.
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Re: Oh Geezzzz
But... that's the lifestyle of a rockstar! Protect the Rockstars!
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You're all super-duper-clever, but cocaine jokes aimed at imaginary proto-celebrities are missing the point.
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Musicians and the deception of royalties
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Second verse, same as the first
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Re: Second verse, same as the first
For those who haven't read it, essentially it suggests that behavior wiped out the dinosaurs rather than an exterior event. Extinction happens periodically on a large scale and no one really knows why.
Towards the end of the book it suggests that the behavior of humans may lead to its eventual downfall and extinction. Halycon's comment on how people talk up the 'emotional impact' rather than the details and facts of an issue could very well be the first step towards our doom.
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Well said Halycon.
And you^ I get rather tired of the "they're rich they can pay" agrument, while I agree, they are likely bastards. Now greed is entirely different.
So, perhaps we can say greedy bastards.
thanks.
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the MTV cribs argument
sports cars, alimony, rehab, and plastic surgery don't pay for themselves, so clearly we need to change the constitution again to make sure these heroes can overdose on the toilet with dignity.
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Retirement
Or are we really talking about the *copyright holders* who will keep getting an income... who are very probably *not* the artist who would need the "retirement income".
And from what I've been reading about the music business, it doesn't seem to be the same as a 9-5 job where people retire after working 35 years at one place.
And what exactly is "retirement" for artists anyway? Does it mean that they don't make any more records? Do they come "out of retirement" when a "greatest hits" CD is released?
But, like the article says, copyright is not a retirement plan.
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Re: Retirement
dude, where do you work?
in america you work somewhere until you get one too many cost of living raises. then your position gets eliminated and your ass is out on the street and your job goes to india or someone willing to do it for half of what you made.
as for "9 to 5", what the hell is that?
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Copyright is just half of it...
For one, copyright only protects half of the IP it's applied to. The other half goes to publishing rights (which are a section of copyright).
Anyone who wrote the music gets an automatic share of the copyright. That just ensures that they are entitled to their percent of 50%. After that the publishing rights are divvied up among the various parties. Sometimes the artist gets a share of this, but if they're on a big label, they'll most likely only see 1% if anything at all from that. That 1% (if anything) is then used to pay royalties to the artists involved in the song (let's say one guy wrote the song, well the rest of the may band still gets credit and royalties through the publishing rights).
Extending copyright means that these songs could be viewed as less valuable. If all an artist has to do is score a single hit that rakes in 1 million dollars, they are earning, at minimum, $500,000 for a single song. That means that the value of music is cheapened with each one of these hits.
Just look at the "single crisis" in the North American market. You have many one hit wonders scoring big and then leeching off of those earnings. This means the market is flooded with a ton of one off's and has very little place in the mainstream for more elaborate, better music.
Then again this is all just my opinion... Extending copyright only cheapens the industry.
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from an actual songwriter
However, when Mike (and others) say things like, "...just like every other worker in the world." it really turns me off to the whole argument. I'll be honest; songwriters are not like every other worker in the world. That whole argument sounds like a child who can't understand why he has to study harder than "Little Jimmy" down the street to achieve the same good grades.
Little Jimmy is smarter and grasps things quicker than the other children. Its just how he was born. He hit the "genetic lottery" when it comes to brains. Because of this (if he takes advantage of his "gifts"), he will get good grades in school, admittance to top colleges, and end up with a high paying job and great retirement benefits. Even after retirement he'll get rewards from the work that was done when he was younger in the form of a pension or stock options he received from his employer(mind you, he got those stock options in a way not available to the general public). Is it fair that he makes more money over his lifetime than "... every other worker in the world..." just because he was born smart?
It's the same with songwriters(and other people who have rare gifts or talents). We were born with the ability to do something not everyone can succeed at. We were lucky enough to hit the "musical genetic lottery."
Look, you guys have some valid points regarding the abuse of copy write law. But, when you start that whole, "They should get paid what(like) I do ..." argument, you loose credibility. Not only do you sound like a socialists (everyone should recieve the same compensation regardless of profession), you sound like jealous kids. Understand, I'm not calling you that, I'm just pointing out how you come across. If you want to start wining more copy write reform arguments, and therefore influencing the laws that come from that understanding, you'll try and find different ways of approaching your goals.
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Re: from an actual songwriter
That's fine. But if they were born so lucky, why do they need a special gov't granted monopoly?
That's my problem.
Look, you guys have some valid points regarding the abuse of copy write law. But, when you start that whole, "They should get paid what(like) I do ..." argument, you loose credibility. Not only do you sound like a socialists (everyone should recieve the same compensation regardless of profession), you sound like jealous kids.
Yikes. But I'm NOT saying that they should get paid "like everyone else does." I'm saying that they shouldn't get paid thanks to a special gov't monopoly.
What I'm saying is a lot less socialist than having the gov't grant you a special monopoly.
Your point about the "genetic lottery winner" doesn't make sense. In that case, the "genetic lottery winner" is ahead of the game and doesn't need extra assistance from the gov't. Why does the songwriting "genetic lottery winner" deserve that assistance?
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No end in sight for draconian copyright laws!!!!
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Copyright Extension
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great topic!
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