Buenos Aires, 17th December 2009 – Argentina has extended the term of protection on sound recordings for performers and producers from 50 to 70 years. The move is welcomed by the music industry in Argentina and internationally. It will improve incentives for producers to invest in the recording of music in Argentina.

The move was announced at the “Tango National Day” celebrations in Buenos Aires when the modification to Article 5 of the Intellectual Property Act was promulgated.

Leading politicians who piloted the act through the Parliament included Miguel Angel Pichetto (FPV Río Negro), José Pampuro (FPV Buenos Aires), Ernesto Sanz (UCR Mendoza), Pedro Guastavino (FPV Entre Ríos) and Liliana Fellner (FPV Jujuy).

Term extension was supported by the Argentine Performers Association (AADI) and the Argentine Music Industry Chamber (CAPIF). Both groups said the new legislation would better protect local performers and producers and bring the country closer into line with emerging international trends in this area.
Many countries outside Europe grant performers and producers terms of copyright protection between 50 and 95 years. It means that performers can benefit from the royalties on their recordings into their old age when they can no longer as easily perform in live venues.

The new act should be highly beneficial to Argentine artists as more than half the albums bought in the country are recorded locally.

Tango master Leopoldo Federico, president of AADI, said: “I would like to thank all those who supported this new law which will benefit the music community in Argentina. It will improve incentives to invest in future recordings and also helps older performers who had faced losing their rights just when they need them the most.”

Javier Delupí, CAPIF’s executive director, added: “This new law is good news for Argentine culture. It promotes the creation of new music and safeguards the rights of performers and producers both here and abroad.”

John Kennedy, chairman and chief executive of IFPI, which represents the recorded music industry worldwide, says: “I am delighted that Argentina has strengthened the rights of performers and producers by extending the term of protection. Argentina has a strong musical heritage and this reform means that producers will have a greater incentive to invest in the next generation of local talent.”