We are glad to invite you to the next meeting on "Fair Copyright in Europe" June the 25th from 04.30 pm to 06.30 pm

On 23 March 2009 the European Parliament is due to vote on a Proposed Directive extending the term of copyright for sound recordings from 50 to 95 years (or perhaps 70 years). Prestigious copyright experts in Europe have strongly opposed the proposal for such a Directive. The proposal, they have explained, seeks to remove sound recordings from the public domain for another generation, ostensibly in order to benefit performers, but in reality only to allow four major multinational companies (Universal, Warner, Sony and EMI) to keep control of the valuable recordings of the 1960s. Several academic papers have demonstrated that the Directive will have an adverse impact on both the economy and culture of Europe. The public of users has also firmly rejected the proposal. Nevertheless, the legislative process has been pushed forward, and on March 23 the Directive might be approved.