| U.S.
Supreme Court Decision a Huge Victory for ASCAP
Members
Just as Playback was going to press,
the U.S. Supreme Court announced a decision
to uphold the 1998 Sonny Bono Copyright Term
Extension Act (CTEA), which extended copyright
protection an extra 20 years -- to the life
of the author plus 70 years. ASCAP President
and Chairman Marilyn Bergman issued the following
statement:
"The Supreme Court's decision supporting copyright
term extension is a tremendous victory for America's
composers and lyricists -- those men and women
who are the purest entrepreneurs because they
face an empty page and, out of the 'factory of
their minds,' create the music that speaks to
the essence of what we are all about. Our copyright
system must assure that our creative efforts receive
proper reward, protection that we can pass on
at least to our children and grandchildren. It
must assure that we, and those who invest in our
works, will receive at least a chance of economic
success, here and abroad. Congress recognized
these needs by enacting the Sonny Bono Copyright
Term Extension Act, and the Supreme Court did
likewise by upholding it. It is a great day for
ASCAP's writer and publisher members, for all
American creators, and, indeed, for the nation
as a whole." |
