Two sides of EU 70-year copyright extension

POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Reactions were decidedly mixed to the EU’s extension of copyrights for recordings from 50 to 70 years. What follows are statements from those who applaud the new law and those who smell a rat, culled from the Wall Street Journal and the N.Y. Times. We’ll start with the statement from the EU itself: "The new directive intends to increase the level of protection of performers by acknowledging their creative and artistic contributions. Performers generally start their careers young and the current term of protection of 50 years often does not protect their performances for their entire lifetime." (9/13a)