Musicians can claim royalties for extra 20 yrs, courtesy ‘Cliff’s law’

London: Thousands of music performers worldwide can now continue earning royalties for an extra 20 years - thanks to a campaign spearheaded by British rock pioneer Sir Cliff Richard.

The European Union has agreed to extend copyright protection on music recordings from 50 to 70 years. The legislation, known as ‘Cliff’s law’ after its most high-profile campaigner, will prevent recordings from the 1950s and 60s from falling out of copyright. Some earlier recordings that have fallen out of copyright will move back under its protection, reports the Telegraph. Under the 50-year rule, the copyright of some of Richard’s songs had already lapsed. Songs from the 1960s, including The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and The Who, were due to expire in the coming years. Sir Cliff originally campaigned for the copyright term to be extended to 95 years, and was backed by hundreds of other veteran musicians ranging from little-known session performers to household names such as Bob Geldoff and wartime “Forces Sweetheart” Dame Vera Lynn. Meanwhile, musicians ranging from Dame Shirley Bassey, Roger Daltry and Jools Holland, alongside contemporary artists like Paloma Faith, have hailed the ruling. “We absolutely do not go into making music for the money, but it is only right that we are paid fairly for the work we do,” Faith said. “As an artist who invests so much time, passion and spirit into making music, [we should] be paid in line with Europe,” she added. ANI