SNP MP Pete Wishart speaks to ePolitix.com about his private members' bill to extend the copyright term beyond 50 years for performers.

Click here to read an interview about the Bill with Dominic McGonigal of Phonographic Performance Ltd

Question: Why did you choose to introduce this particular private members' bill?

Pete Wishart: As a former musician, I've always taken a great interest in musicians and musical issues. In my experience as a musician, I have met many more poor musicians than rich ones, and I'm particularly appalled at the unique discrimination against musicians when it comes to royalties.

Question: What is the purpose of the Bill?

Wishart: The Bill is to bring musicians into line with other artists and creators, and to ensure that they will secure royalty payments in their old age. The current rules mean that after 50 years, payments stop. This is unfair and should be reversed.

Question: There has been some resistance from the government to the content of the Bill, why do you think this is?

Wishart: This is a perplexing issue for me. The Treasury asked former Financial Times editor Andrew Gowers to look at all issues to do with intellectual property, and he recommended no extension to terms. From the very beginning, Andrew Gowers was always predisposed to this position. He surrounded himself by economists rather than musicians or artists, and he came to the wrong conclusion about the value of this measure for the economy and for musicians.

Question: How important is it to have MP's from all parties supporting your bill?

Wishart: It's very, very important. We have to demonstrate the full view of Parliament on this issue. I have been very fortunate that my Bill has secured cross-party support from all parties. The select committee has also recommended an extension in term. I have also had a debate in the House of Commons on this issue, and I have worked as much as possible for this to be an all-party initiative, and I'm certain it will continue to be so.

Question: What involvement have you had with PPL whilst working on the Bill?

Wishart: It has been a very useful and productive involvement with PPL. PPL are one of the organisations which have taken the lead on this issue, and they refused to accept the Gowers recommendations. PPL, BPI, and the Musicians' Union have all strongly backed my Bill, and I very much appreciate their support.

Question: How supportive is the music industry in general of the Bill?

Wishart: The support has almost been overwhelming. The Bill has received support from musicians, from record companies, from those receiving royalties payment on behalf of musicians. There was a petition signed by thousands and thousands of musicians on this issue last year, and they included some of the top musicians from the 1950s and 1960s, as well as from the most humble.

I think it is that type of initiative that has been able to persuade the European Commission in their decision recently to recommend 95 years.

Question: Should we follow the American model of a 95-year copyright term?

Wishart: Yes indeed. The American model is a great example of how a government should look after this industry and musicians, and I am delighted that the European Union, through commissioner McCreevy's recommendations, has chosen to accept this. It will make Europe competitive with the USA, and ensure that investment can be made into music and our creative industries.

Question: In general, do you think it's difficult for the music industry to get in front of government?

Wishart: The music industry is one of the UK's most successful export industries, and it is imperative the government sets out the political environment for our artists and our industry to succeed. The music industry has good access with the UK government but it could be better. I don't think the government fully gets how important the music industry is, and how central the creative industries in their totality are to the success of the general UK economy.

The government has to do more for music and the creative industries, and it will get so much back in return.

Question: Do you have any final comment for ePolitix.com?

Wishart: I'm delighted the European Union and commissioner McCreevy have decided to extend terms to 95 years. This will be warmly welcomed by musicians all around the country, by the companies who are crucial in developing our industry. It is now time for the UK government to get behind this recommendation and to put the whole unfortunate Gowers experience behind us.