Term takes a turn for the worse.

Government holds firm over blocking tactics as industry executives rage at latest move

By Robert Ashton

Ministers' phones will ring red hot over the next few days as a heavyweight team of senior industry figures turns up the heat on the Government in an attempt to persuade it to rethink its position on copyright term.

In a savage blow to industry hopes of securing copyright extension, the Government undermined years of hard work by voting against a revised deal for term last Friday.

Although the issue is not dead, the industry now faces a stressful few days as it tries to put things right and ensure the Brussels legislative timetable - already very tight - can be achieved. "It's not over, but Friday was a big opportunity to put this through," says one angry executive.

A compromise proposal, prepared by the Presidency, was put in front of the permanent representatives committee last Friday. The 12-page deal to amend the Directive had suggested that the term of protection should be extended to 70 years.

It also made provision for rights to return to the performer if not being exploited by a record label and outlined the operation of a session fund, with companies obliged to set aside 20% of revenues.