With the extension, the rights to recordings from the 1960s will not become public domain and composers and musicians – or their survivors – will retain control over how their works are used. The move will involve no practical changes in Sweden, where copyright protection under Swedish law endures for the lifetime of the author and 70 years after his or her death.
The decision is the end result of protracted diplomatic negotiations. The European Parliament voted in favour of the proposal to extend copyright back in spring 2009, but the formal decision was subsequently put on hold by a divided Council.
The majority of Member States were now in favour of the extension. Sweden, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Belgium and The Netherlands voted against the proposal. Austria and Estonia abstained. (Source: Christian Wohlert, Europaportalen’s correspondent in Brussels.)
Copyright protection was created to make it possible for artists of various kinds to make a living from their work. The Member States that voted against the decision fear the extension will benefit only major record companies and not minor artists.
The decision, taken Monday, 12 September 2011, must be implemented in all EU Member States by 2014.
