Money for old dope

Some of us have to plan for old age and dependents. But if you were a performer the State will do it for you – at least it seems that the French State will, having undertaken during their presidency of the European Commission to resuscitate a proposal that was thought to have been put to bed once and for all. Extension of copyright protection for performers and recordings (now from 50 to 95 years, rather than the slightly more modest 70 years rejected in the Gowers Review) is apparently back on the agenda in the European Union. With majority voting on IP matters in the EU shortly to become a reality, and supporters like Cliff Richard who is to say it will not get through, especially if the big business sting is taken out of it by ensuring (at least when it is implemented) that the right belongs to the artist rather than the record company.

I suggest that we all lobby the European Parliament for an extension of performance rights to lawyers - performing in Court, performing in negotiations - entitling them to an inalienable right to a share of the benefit to their client for 95 years. That would surely make all Euro MPs vote against it. Indeed, why should this proposal not be widened to other intellectual property rights such as patents, or more generally to service providers – perhaps even to politicians for political services rendered!