IFPI welcomes the recent US Supreme Court decision

London, January 17, 2003

IFPI welcomes the recent US Supreme Court decision in Eldrid vs. Ashcroft upholding the US Congress' extension of copyrights to a 70 year-plus term. The decision recognises the various market factors that warrant an extension of copyright term, including the longer commercial value of copyright material, longer lives of creators, and necessary incentives to improve and distribute older material.

"This decision is very much in line with the worldwide trend to extend and harmonise copyright terms,'" said Allen Dixon, General Counsel and Executive Director of IFPI. "This makes sense not only for recorded music and other copyright material distributed in CD or other physical format, but particularly for material that is delivered over the internet."

For further information contact:
Fiona Harley, IFPI +44 (0)20 7878 7900