Music copyrights will remain fixed at 50 years after the British government decided against extending their term to as much as 95 years. In May, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Culture, Media, and Sport had recommended that the term be lengthened to bring it more in line with copyright terms in the rest of the world (95 years in the US).

The music industry had lobbied the government hard for a copyright extension, saying that it was necessary to protect the rights of musicians, especially groundbreaking acts whose older songs were about to hit the 50-year limit. Reuters notes that Cliff Richard will no longer receive royalties from his 1958 hit Move It! once the song hits the 50-year-old mark next year.

Criticism from the music industry has come fast and furious in the wake of the government’s decision. “Thousands of musicians have no pensions and rely on royalties to support themselves,” said Roger Daltry, lead singer of The Who. “These people helped to create one of Britain’s most successful industries, poured money into the British economy and enriched people’s lives. They are not asking for a handout, just a fair reward for
their creative endeavors.”

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