UK copyright law provides performers and producers of sound
recordings (such as musicians and record labels) the right to be
paid when their sound recordings are broadcast or played in
public, such as when recorded music is played on the radio.
UK law makes these rights available to many foreign nationals.
But the way in which UK law does this has historically not been
fully consistent with UK international commitments.
An Intellectual Property
Office (IPO)
consultation in early 2024 explored different ways of
providing these rights to foreign performers and producers to
resolve this inconsistency.
The IPO also
met with various stakeholder groups, including organisations that
represent music and broadcasting sector trade associations and
collective management organisations (which license rights on
behalf of performers and rights holders).
The government is today announcing its chosen
approach. This involves a limited change to how foreign
performers qualify for this right so more performers will enjoy
this right in UK law in the future. There will be no change to
how foreign producers qualify for this right.
This change is expected to have small practical impacts on the UK
creative industries but will allow the UK to comply with its
international commitments.
The government response summarises the views received at
consultation, more detail on the chosen approach, and why this
approach is being taken.
To implement this change, the government will introduce
legislation in the coming days.
Additional information
-
the consultation ran
for 9 weeks between 15 January 2024 to 22 March 2024. The
consultation received 33 written responses
-
the government
response summarises the responses to each question. All
views reported are those of respondents and should not be
taken as the views of the IPO
