The chances of European music copyright being almost doubled appear to dimming after the UK government and a minority of other member states on Friday voted down European Commission’s proposed extension from 50 to 95 years, which was endorsed by the European Parliament in February. As Music Week reports, UK innovation and skills minister John Denham is in favour of a 70-year deal that he says would artists a bigger share of digital download revenue. Even this extension is opposed by digital liberties campaigners like Open Rights Group, however.

A second European Parliament vote on the legislation text is tabled for next month but, without majority backing, it cannot be passed. Yet Denham is still confident a deal can be struck (via FT.com): “It is clear that today’s outcome will not kill off the proposals to extend copyright term, but rather that member states need more time to consider that details of the proposal and reach an agreement…I’ve always been clear that the UK would support an extension to copyright terms to deliver real, lasting benefits to performers. We are nearly there.” The US has moved to the 95-year term already.

Not only is the duration of copyright up for grabs, so is the division of the royalties pie in the digital world. Under existing rules, artists get 15 percent of sales from recorded music, while labels get the rest to compensate their large recording and distribution expenses. But Denham and pressure group the Featured Artists Coalition argue that the cost of distribution in a digital age has plummeted and the artists should have a bigger share.

The FAC says in a statement: “Under the proposals voted down on Friday, record companies would simply gain another 45 years of ownership, entrenching the terms of record contracts signed in an analogue age...deals are still being signed under the old model and, while this (royalty rate) might sound a lot, the reality is that, through a range of discounts and deductions, this 15 percent is dramatically reduced to only a few pence at best.”

• Euro MPs Back Extra 45 Years For Copyright; Will UK Follow Suit?
• Copyright Extension: Burnham ‘Silly And Out Of Touch’, Says Gowers
• U.K. Government Rejects Long-Tail Music Copyright Extension