AUTHORS' RIGHTS : EXTENSION OF PERFORMERS' RIGHTS SPARKS CONCERNS AT COUNCIL.

Certain delegations at the EU Council doubt the relevance of a legislative proposal intended to extend from 50 to 95 years the duration of the rights of performing artists and performers, in particular studio musicians. This was revealed in a report by the French Presidency of the EU, presented at the Competitiveness Council of 1 December in Brussels.

The idea behind the Commission's proposal for a directive, on the table since mid-July, is to strike a balance with the protection of authors' rights (which last throughout the author's life, then 70 years after his death) by extending its duration. In fact, performers, who are increasingly living beyond the protection of their productions, often find they are left with nothing once their rights have expired. By doing this, the EU would be aligning itself with US legislation.

However, "while sharing this objective, certain delegations expressed concerns over the capacity of this proposal to reach this objective in a satisfactory or balanced manner," indicates the French Presidency's report. For some countries, 95 years is too long. But several countries would be prepared to accept a more moderate extension. Negotiations are therefore continuing on this duration, indicates the French Presidency. The latter also proposed broadening the field of the proposal to audiovisual performers, thus responding to the delegations that consider their exclusion as "unjustified discrimination".

The fact that the Commission's plan only addresses music professionals had in fact outraged the International Federation of Actors (FIA). While the International Federation of Musicians (FIM), the International Organisation of Performing Artists (GIART) and the FIA welcomed an initiative, which finally shed light on hundreds of thousands of performing artists having difficulties making ends meet, there were several criticisms.

Numerous delegations also called for a strengthening of the rights of studio musicians, demanding additional annual income as well as the right for performing artists or...

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