UK recorded music copyright remains at 50 years

Gowers Review declares copyright on recorded music should be held at 50 years


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The UK will not extend the copyright period on sound recordings following an independent review by the Treasury.

Record labels and acts, including Sir Cliff Richard and Jethro Tull, had been lobbying for the copyright period for recorded music to be extended to last for 95 years, rather than the 50-year-limit of today.

Music label trade group the BPI had argued that extending the term would benefit musicians and the industry. However, the review found that the benefits were not sufficiently significant to justify such a change.

The review was conducted by Andrew Gowers. The decision means that the earliest official recordings from The Beatles will be out of copyright in 2013.


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