HL Deb 28 March 1994 vol 553 cc39-40WA
Lord Stoddart of Swindon

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they support the proposed change of copyright law within the European Union to extend protection after the death of an author from 50 to 70 years; and whether such a change would be in accordance with the United Kingdom's obligations under the Berne Convention.

The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Strathclyde)

The extension of copyright protection after the death of an author from 50 to 70 years is one of the provisions of Directive 93/98/EEC harmonising the term of protection of copyright and certain related rights within the European Community, which was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 29 October 1993 and which member states are now obliged to implement by 1 July 1995. The Government were reluctant to agree this provision, but did so because they considered that the directive, which was subject to qualified majority voting, would as a whole be of benefit to the United Kingdom. The provision is fully compatible with the obligations of the United Kingdom under the Berne Convention, since the latter expressly permits contracting parties to grant a term of protection longer than life plus 50 years.