Copyright extension: Seems our MPs haven't been doing their homework

Michael Holloway, 14 May 2007

Update 2: Nick Pollard says Stephen Williams MP has responded to his letter by agreeing to take his name off the EDM. Well done, Nick (and Mr Williams MP). Anyone else had a response? Let us know so we can strike their names off the list below.

Update: 7 more MPs have signed the EDM this week. If you are a constituent of one of these members, please write to explain why we should all oppose this copyright extension.

Alan Simpson - Nottingham South - Labour

Janet Dean - Burton - Labour

Jeffrey Donaldson - Lagan Valley - Democratic Unionist Party

Frank Doran - Aberdeen North - Labour

Pete Wishart - Perth and Perthshire - SNP

Alasdair McDonnell - Belfast South - Social Democratic and Labour Party

Colin Burgon - Elmet - Labour Party

Here we go again.

Top-level reviews of intellectual property regulation reject proposals to extend the length of copyright protection for producers and performers. An independent economic study grounds the Gowers Review's recommendation that “The European Commission should retain the length of protection on sound recordings and performers’ rights at 50 years.” This recommendation, endorsed by the British government in December 2006, is affirmed by a report authored for the European Commission that rejects in even stronger terms proposals for extension.

Yet certain politicians appear to be neglecting their IP studies. Seventy MPs have now signed an Early Day Motion calling for extension: perhaps they're simply studying from the same textbooks as Mick, Katie and Cliff? Please write to tell your MP that term extension will neither benefit starving musicians nor guarantee profits for the recording industry.

We must remind politicians to debate this issue on the basis of evidence – which points firmly against extension – rather than nostalgia. It is particularly important to write if you are a constituent of one of these 70 MPs:

David Amess	Mark Durkan	David Lepper
David Anderson	Bill Etherington	Elfyn Llwyd
Janet Anderson	Mark Field	Peter Luff
Joe Benton	Michael Jabez Foster	Judy Mallaber
David S Borrow	Hywel Francis	David Marshall
Peter Bottomley	Mike Gapes	John McDonnell
Colin Breed	Ian Gibson	Jim McGovern
Vincent Cable	Nigel Griffiths	Ann McKechin
Martin Caton	John Grogan	Rosemary McKenna
David Chaytor	Mike Hancock	Alan Meale
Michael Clapham	Dai Havard	Doug Naysmith
Tom Clarke	John Hemming	Edward O'Hara
David Clelland	Doug Henderson	Mike Penning
Harry Cohen	Jimmy Hood	John Robertson
Derek Conway	Kelvin Hopkins	Bob Russell
Frank Cook	George Howarth	Dennis Skinner
Jeremy Corbyn	Brian Iddon	Gavin Strang
Ann Cryer	Glenda Jackson	David Taylor
Ian Davidson	Brian Jenkins	Desmond Turner
Philip Davies	Lynne Jones	Rudi Vis
Jim Dobbin	Barbara Keeley	Betty Williams
Frank Dobson	Alan Keen	~~Stephen Williams~~
David Drew	Greg [R] Knight	Jenny Willott

If you need fuel for your letters, watch the videos (or listen to the audio) from our Release the Music debate (thanks, Tim!). The first part is a fantastic speech by Jonathan Zittrain, which explains this issue and other aspects of copyright reform in clear terms. The second is a panel debate, featuring representatives from the music industry as well as an academic and recording artist.

We’ll be updating our Release the Music briefing pack before taking the campaign to Europe later this year. If any readers are excited to get involved, please Turn on JavaScript! so we can coordinate our efforts.

Paul Pedley

Reply #14 on : Mon May 14, 2007, 12:55:18

As you say, the Gowers review recommended that the copyright term should not be extended.

Indeed, the Out-law.com podcast for 26 April 2007 (http://www.out-law.com/page-7276) in which Andrew Gowers is interviewed, tells us that based on the evidence, he almost recommended a REDUCTION in the term.

What people also seem to overlook is that Recommendation 4 of the Gowers review says "Policy makers should adopt the principle that the term and scope of protection for IP rights should not be altered retrospectively". So even if it were changed, it wouldn't happen retrospectively.

In the USA when the Sonny Bonno legislation was being discussed, Jack Valenti wanted copyright to last forever. Given, however that the US constitution says that copyright should be for a limited period, he said that it should last forever minus one day (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonny_Bono_Copyright_Term_Extension_Act)

And then there was the advertisement which appeared in the FT shortly after the Gowers review came out, signed by 4000 artists, supporting extension of the term. Some of the 4000 were dead. And so the argument goes, if dead people can sign an advert, they can surely benefit from the extension of copyright term - see http://www.lessig.org/blog/archives/003628.shtml

Reply #13 on : Mon May 14, 2007, 13:49:35

[...] It’s very important that you read this and then please write to your MP. Thanks. Email This To A Friend [...]

Graham Anderson

Reply #12 on : Mon May 14, 2007, 19:50:41

In case people want to see the constituency listed against the MP. I know who my MP is, but not who my mates' MPs might be - hope this helps:

David Amess - Southend West
David Anderson - Blaydon
Janet Anderson - Rossendale & Darwen
Joe Benton - Bootle
David S Borrow - South Ribble
Peter Bottomley - Worthing West
Colin Breed - South East Cornwall
Vincent Cable - Twickenham
Martin Caton - Gower
David Chaytor - Bury North
Michael Clapham - Barnsley West & Penistone
Tom Clarke - Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill
David Clelland - Tyne Bridge
Harry Cohen - Leyton & Wanstead
Derek Conway - Old Bexley & Sidcup
Frank Cook - Stockton North
Jeremy Corbyn - Islington North
Ann Cryer - Keighley
Ian Davidson - Glasgow South West
Philip Davies - Shipley
Jim Dobbin - Heywood & Middleton
Frank Dobson - Holborn & St Pancras
David Drew - Stroud
Mark Durkan - Foyle
Bill Etherington - Sunderland North
Mark Field - Cities of London & Westminster
Michael Jabez Foster - Hastings & Rye
Hywel Francis - Aberavon
Mike Gapes - Ilford South
Ian Gibson - Norwich North
Nigel Griffiths - Edinburgh South
John Grogan - Selby
Mike Hancock - Portsmouth South
Dai Havard - Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney
John Hemming - Birmingham, Yardley
Doug Henderson - Newcastle upon Tyne North
Jimmy Hood - Lanark & Hamilton East
Kelvin Hopkins - Luton North
George Howarth - Knowsley North & Sefton East
Brian Iddon - Bolton South East
Glenda Jackson - Hampstead & Highgate
Brian Jenkins - Tamworth
Lynne Jones - Birmingham, Selly Oak
Barbara Keeley - Worsley
Alan Keen - Feltham & Heston
Greg [R] Knight - East Yorkshire
David Lepper - Brighton, Pavilion
Elfyn Llwyd - Meirionnydd Nant Conwy
Peter Luff - Mid Worcestershire
Judy Mallaber - Amber Valley
David Marshall - Glasgow East
John McDonnell - Hayes & Harlington
Jim McGovern - Dundee West
Ann McKechin - Glasgow North
Rosemary McKenna - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth & Kirkintilloch East
Alan Meale - Mansfield
Doug Naysmith - Bristol North West
Edward O’Hara - Knowsley South
Mike Penning - Hemel Hempstead
John Robertson - Glasgow North West
Bob Russell - Colchester
Dennis Skinner - Bolsover
Gavin Strang - Edinburgh East
David Taylor - North West Leicestershire
Desmond Turner - Brighton, Kemptown
Rudi Vis - Finchley & Golders Green
Betty Williams - Conwy
Stephen Williams - Bristol West
Jenny Willott - Cardiff Central

URGENT: Brits act now to stop back-door copyright extension! at LifeParticles.com

Reply #11 on : Mon May 14, 2007, 19:59:34

[...] Link [...]

Interested

Reply #10 on : Mon May 14, 2007, 20:31:06

http://www.writetothem.com/
Will find your MP and help you write to them.

SteveL

Reply #9 on : Mon May 14, 2007, 20:46:41

Dropped a note to Stephen Williams, the Bristol West Lib-Dem MP. Its a big student constituency, who threw out a labour MP over iraq, so its surprising he has joined the record companies.

I have explained the situation to our local indymedia site to get some local activity.

Sean

Reply #8 on : Tue May 15, 2007, 00:49:44

I am really shocked by some of the names on the list, but that is another story.
I can only feel that they have been ill advised, or have not had the time to do their own research.
As a creative, I respect copyright, but "times they are a changing" to quote a dead person. I share my work, and am very happy for that work to be mashed, stolen, recycled... It often inspires me.
I forget who said "Nothing is ever original" (possibly my art teacher at school...But then he probably borrowed that from someone...) We all benefit from sharing ideas/content. It makes creativity, therefore life, that much better.
Count me in on fighting this one.

Sean

Reply #7 on : Tue May 15, 2007, 00:52:57

PS. Excellent post with the list Mr Anderson, I will look up emails for as many as I can, or is that a waste of time do you think?
Regards.

JohnB

Reply #6 on : Tue May 15, 2007, 16:16:35

I note that Pete Wishart, MP for Perth and North Perthshire, has joined the call. As a member of Runrig I can see how this might engage him at a personal level, but I'm not sure that this is in the best interests of the people he has agreed to represent.
Following the 2005 constituency changes he is no longer our MP, but perhaps someone in Perth or its environs can get in touch with him.

Just wonderful things » URGENT: Brits act now to stop back-door copyright extension!

Reply #5 on : Tue May 15, 2007, 23:16:13

[...] Link [...]

Stephen Bridges

Reply #4 on : Wed May 16, 2007, 22:43:29

Nice to see David Amess MP standing up for important issues. Like cake (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brass_Eye). Looks like he's not listening any more carefully.

Bill Clark

Reply #3 on : Mon May 21, 2007, 12:41:55

As a small time re-issuer of Music Hall recordings, an extension to the copyright term would mean the end of this activity which has brought the names of many long forgotten artists back into circulation. The Gower Review took all this into account.

In citing the estate of the late Lonnie Donegan as a reason for term extension, Michael Connarty, author of the parliamentary bill "Copyright Term for Performers and Producers" has been badly advised. His widow would make far more by re-issuing Lonnie's now public domain recordings on her own record label, than she would accrue by any potential royalties from the original label. Of course, the major labels wouldn't point that out.

We must resist the new threat to internet radio. at jamdev

Reply #2 on : Mon May 28, 2007, 22:55:42

[...] Copyright is a bargain, even in the United States of America. It’s not what certain factions of industry would have you (or our governments) believe, but the jurisprudence is very clear: it is important to protect the public interest in literature, music and the creative arts as well as the creators’ economic rights. Where they are in conflict, a balanced approach must prevail. [...]

Nick Pollard

Reply #1 on : Mon June 04, 2007, 17:27:43

Just got this reply from the office of Stephen Williams (Bristol West) MP:

"Thank you for your considered email to Stephen Williams about the issue
of copyright extension and the EDM that he signed.

After reading your letter and several others, Stephen has decided to
withdraw his name from the EDM. He will write to you properly, but I
thought that you might like to know in advance.

Apologies for any disappointment that this might have caused."

Looks like you can cross him off your list now, hurrah!

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