Canada is extending the copyright term for sound recordings from 50 years to 70 years. The change is happening as part of the country’s 2015 budget. Many other countries, including the UK and Australia, have copyright terms of 70 years, while the U.S. term is 95 years.
Trade body Music Canada issued a statement applauding the change, claiming that it could help remove the competitive disadvantage faced by Canadian artists in doing international business. “By proposing to extend the term of copyright in recorded music, Prime Minister Harper and the Government of Canada have demonstrated a real understanding of music’s importance to the Canadian economy,” Music Canada Presiden Graham Henderson said. He added that it went against the public interest and the Canadian economy for popular tunes to go into the public domain after just 50 years.