Music body rejects copyright advice

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has called on the British Government to reject recommendations by Andrew Gowers not to increase the copyright protection for sound recordings.

Not surprisingly, the IFPI has added its voice to that of the British Phonographic Industry's saying that the current law of 50 years is a substantially shorter term of copyright protection than exists in the US and other countries which stand at 95 years.

The recording industry alleges the shorter British terms puts domestic producers and performers at a disadvantage.

The Gowers review published on Wednesday was set up a year ago to look at the issue of intellectual property rights (IPR) and how to best handle them in the digital age. The question of extending this term of copyright was just one aspect of the review.

However, the trade organisation has welcomed the recommendation that the role of internet service providers (ISPs) in helping curb copyright infringement on the internet is revisited.

The Gowers Review is calling for the Government to broker an agreement between ISPs and copyright owners for a procedure to remove users who engage in piracy. It has said legislation should be considered if this does not prove effective by the end of 2007.

The IFPI has also welcomed recommendations that penalties for online copyright infringement match those for physical piracy, as are proposals to ramp up anti-piracy powers for UK trading standards officers.

However, it is more ambivalent in its response to Gowers' recommendation that consumers should not face penalties for copying music they have paid for between devices such as CDs to mp3 players - known as format-shifting.

It said that "the recording industry looks forward to discussing with the British government how best to move forward on this issue over the coming months".