September 9, 2011 12:59

'Cliff Richard's Law' will see performers' copyright extended to 70 years

Photo: PA Photos

A new EU ruling is set to see copyright for music performers extended from 50 to 70 years.

The ruling has been dubbed Cliff Richard's Law, as it will see older musicians such as Richards still able to profit from their music long after it has been recorded and released.

The new regulations are set to be ratified before copyright expires on a host of classic songs and a lot of less well-known ones from the 1960s.

Musicians welcomed the announcement, with Roger Daltrey of The Who commenting:

It's extremely good news. Musicians need to be paid. There are thousands of small musicians whose independence relies on the little bit of royalty, for work they did in the 1960s, they get by way of a pension.

Composers already have copyright for 70 years after their deaths, but the new law would see performers who sing other people's songs have their copyright extended for another 20 years, reports The Independent. So while The Beatles were already protected, now the likes of Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey will also continue to receive royalties. Bassey said of the new ruling: