The length of time that sound recordings remain in copyright is a controversial subject and for the past couple of years a debate has raged on whether to extend it from the present 50 years.

Andrew Gowers – who led the Gowers review of intellectual property – suggested it should remain at 50 years but that we should review it in the light of European considerations. Charlie McCreevy, European Union commissioner, subsequently came up with a different view: that it be extended to 95 years.