UK GOVERNMENT LETS DOWN UK MUSICIANS IN BRUSSELS.

UK GOVERNMENT LETS DOWN UK MUSICIANS IN BRUSSELS.

DISCRIMINATION ‘NOT ON’ SAYS WISHART.

Pete Wishart MP has reacted furiously to the betrayal of the UK Government in its refusal to back the extension of copyright term on sound recordings in an important European Committee today (Friday).

Despite the numerous assurances to musicians and the music industry that it would be seeking to increase the copyright term to 70 years, the UK Government did not support the draft directive when it appeared before the European Union Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) in Brussels, potentially killing the directive at First Reading.

Former musician, Pete Wishart, brought forward a Private Members Bill in support of term extension in the House of Commons

Commenting on the UK Government’s backtrack, Mr Wishart said:

“This is an enormous betrayal of the whole music industry and a total slap in the face to UK musicians.

“As late as last Wednesday, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham offered reassurances that the UK Government would be doing the right thing on term and would be supporting the extension of copyright term on sound recordings to 70 years. But today the UK Government could not bring itself to vote for term extension and allowed the committee to throw the plans out.

“With only a few months left before the European elections, it is important that UK Ministers work round the clock to get this back on track and honour its commitments to UK musicians. Being uniquely discriminated against on royalties is not on for musicians and they deserve to be treated the same as all other creators.

“I am leading an All Party delegation to meet the Secretary of State and Intellectual Property Minister, David Lammy, on Wednesday and I will want to know why this Government says one thing in London and then does another in Europe. It’s not good enough and Government must now get this fixed.”