HL Deb 30 June 1994 vol 556 cc53-4WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What in their view will be the effect on public libraries, schools and colleges, and all those who study in them of the extension of copyright protection from 50 years to 70 years after the author's death.

Lord Strathclyde

The extension of copyright protection may be of some disadvantage to public libraries, schools and colleges through works remaining under the control of copyright owners for a longer period. Clearly, however, this will be of significance only in the case of those works which remain of interest more than 50 years after the death of their authors, whereas the majority of works of importance to the establishments concerned are likely to be more recent works which are within copyright even under present legislation. The Government's view is, therefore, that, in practice, the position will be largely unchanged. Moreover, the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 recognises the special interests of libraries, schools and colleges by providing certain exceptions to copyright in their case, and these will not be affected by the extension of protection.

Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to their reply of 6th June (H.L. Deb, col. WA68), what they consider the effect will be of the extension of copyright protection from 50 years to 70 years after the author's death; and whether the extension is in the best interests of literature generally.

Lord Strathclyde

A fundamental reason for granting copyright protection is to foster creativity, by ensuring that authors, and their successors in title, are able to obtain proper economic returns for the use of their works, through the rights conferred by copyright. Clearly, therefore, the increase in the duration of rights will be of encouragement, rather than discouragement, to authors and should, in general, act to the good of literature. The Government consider that this, and the other benefits of the directive, should more than offset any disadvantages to users arising from the extension of copyright in works whose authors have been dead for more than 50 years.