Stateside, the recording industry is fighting for performance royalties from terrestrial broadcasters.  But in Europe, traditional radio stations already pay that royalty – but only until the copyright expires fifty years after creation.  “The vast majority of creators benefit from having their works protected by copyright throughout their lives plus seventy years thereafter,” stated Fran Nevrkla, chairman and CEO of recording licensing group PPL, just one of several organizations fighting this fight.  “It is only recording artists and other performers who are the second-class citizens in the copyright environment because all their rights expire only 50 years after their recordings are first released.”

This has been a long-running issue, so why the sudden push?  The reason is that the Czech Republic currently holds the presidency of the European Union, before it gets passed to Sweden, a far less friendly owner.  The switchover happens in July.  “The Czech Government has a unique opportunity to adopt the EU Directive that would allow music performers to receive revenues for their music for 70 years, covering the average lifespan,” the PPL continued.

On the other side, some reasonable arguments exist for not extending the copyright term.  Extended copyright terms impose more costs on media companies, and offer a disincentive to promote certain content.  Additionally, payments are often channeled through estates or other companies controlling master rights, especially as the term reaches its later stages.

The list goes on, though arguments of fair use and public domain also enter the debate, and finer discussions of what ultimately benefits society are worth entertaining. Other organizations pushing for passage include the IFPI, IMPALA, FIM, AEPO-ARTIS, and GIART.