Reuters is reporting that the UK government has rejected pressure from the music industry to extend the term of copyright associated with sound recordings.
UK Government Rejects Music Copyright Term Extension
July 24, 2007
Share this post
2 Comments

Law Bytes
Episode 247: My Senate Appearance on the Bill That Could Lead to Canada-Wide Blocking of X, Reddit and ChatGPT
byMichael Geist

October 27, 2025
Michael Geist
October 20, 2025
Michael Geist
October 6, 2025
Michael Geist
September 22, 2025
Michael Geist
September 15, 2025
Michael Geist
Search Results placeholder
Recent Posts
We Need More Canada in the Training Data: My Appearance Before the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage on AI and the Creative Sector
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 247: My Senate Appearance on the Bill That Could Lead to Canada-Wide Blocking of X, Reddit and ChatGPT
The Law Bytes Podcast, Episode 246: Mohamed Zohiri on the Rise and Emerging Regulation of Stablecoins
Senate Bill Would Grant Government Regulatory Power to Mandate Age Verification For Search, Social Media and AI Services Accompanied By Threat of Court Ordered Blocking of Lawful Content
Government Reverses on Bill C-2: Removes Lawful Access Warrantless Demand Powers in New Border Bill

So despite not having a long monopoly (aka copyright) on music, the UK remains a “world-beating source of great music” according to the head of the IFPI. That seems to fly in the face of needing a longer copyright terms.
Of course, it would be totally wrong to extend copyright. When they made the copyrighted work, they knew the rules. For them now to ask that the rules be changed retroactively is wrong.
For them to complain they don\’t have pensions and need the royalties is wrong. They knew the royalties would run out. They know they need a pension. For them to lobby the government to make up for their lack of forward planning just shows how utterly stupid these musicians are.