On 2/15/08, Ciaran O'Riordan ciaran@fsfe.org wrote:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/02/14/business/EU-FIN-EU-Music-Royalties...
As European Commissioner for Internal Market, McCreevy wants to extend copyright from 50 years to 95 years. His reason? People are now living longer.
You couldn't make it up. He says he wants to ensure that teen artists can rely on their work providing them a pension.
I thought copyrights were a regulatory intervention designed to promote innovation, not a pension fund for people who haven't produced anything since their teenage years.
I can't see a teen artist deciding against a rock 'n roll lifestyle because they are concerned about pension prospects.
Maybe "Free-market champion fights to extend monopolies, again" might be appropriate. Or was that done during swpat?
John