It's the Beatles stupid! (Placido Domingo)

The superior Naxos Historical and Pristine CD's will not be valuable collectors items.

All recordings now public domain, will remain public domain. Recordings from 1961 will also enter the public domain and maybe 1962. Therefore these will continue to be available and more will be added.

The major labels are currently lobbying national EU governments to implement the directive as soon as possible to stop 1961 & 1962 recordings entering the public domain.

http://www.musicweek.com/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=1046584&c=1

There are number of important facts not included in the Music Week article:

The directive has to be implemented by all EU countries within two years, i.e. 12 September 2013. Therefore recordings released in 1963 are not due to go public domain until 1 January 2014 under the 50 years rule, and remain in copyright until 1 January 2034.

Although if one or more of the EU countries have not implemented the directive due to possible due to legal issues, 1963 may be available in the public domain.

The rules of the Single European Market overrule national copyright law. If a third party release a recording in a country where extension has not been implemented, it can lawfully sell it in any EU country even if the extension has been introduced in that country.

This is the reason why composers’ copyright was increased from life + 50 years to life + 70 years, so all of the EU had the same as Germany.

There is a major loophole in the directive, the extension only apply to legally released or broadcasted recordings. Unreleased or unbroadcasted recordings, i.e. live concerts, demos, alternative takes and mixes enter the public domain after 50 years.

So The Beatles concerts and alternative takes (currently bootlegs) can be lawfully released after 50 years.

There is also question mark over TV performances as the directive contradicts itself.