UK Consumers Support Longer Copyright Periods

by Robin Pilgrim, LawAndTax-News.com, London

15 November 2006

New research conducted by YouGov on behalf of the British Phonographic Industry has shown that a majority of British consumers support the record industry’s battle for extended copyright protection for UK artists.

62% of those polled agreed that UK artists should be protected for the same number of years as their American counterparts, by extending the term of copyright for sound recordings from its current 50 years to 95 years.

According to YouGov, only 20% of respondents did not agree that copyright should be brought in line with the US, while 18% were unsure.

The research provides an insight into consumers' attitudes as the British music industry awaits results of the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property, set to be published at the end of November.

Peter Jamieson, chairman of the BPI, observed of the results that:

“We are hugely encouraged that the majority of British consumers agree with us that UK musicians should receive as much copyright protection as their US counterparts.”

"Our unique and internationally renowned industry would use a term extension to continue to invest heavily in the creative economy for future generations and consolidate the rights and works of our cultural ambassadors.”

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