The British music industry’s feathers have already been ruffled by leaks from the soon-to-be released Gowers review of intellectual property  in the UK indicating that it will not, despite the pleading of cash-strapped stars like the millionaire Sir Cliff Richard, extend copyright on music beyond the existing 50 years.  Sir Cliff’s first hits were in the ’50s.

Meanwhile, fears are growing that not only the copyright system but the internet itself could "implode" under the strain of dealing with digital developments. Prof. Roger Wallis of the Stockholm technical university who has been researching this topic for years, told an invited audience in London on Thursday that if measures to prevent illegal down and up loading  under the EU’s i2010 strategy were implemented rigorously, Google, all peer-to-peer networks and every email system would have to be shut down: "In other words" he said "The Net would grind to a halt."  Wallis, a composer himself, believes that if you want creativity in a society sometimes you have to be a bit illegal.  He should know: years ago he co-wrote the winner of the Eurovision song contest.

Alan Cane, London.

November 30th, 2006 in Music | Permalink