The government has moved to strengthen protections for local creatives through amendments to the Copyright Act, extending the period during which artistes, performers, and producers can benefit financially from their work.
The Bill, which seeks to extend copyright, moral rights, and neighbouring rights from 50 to 70 years, was unanimously approved in the Senate on Tuesday, with all 30 members voting in favour.
Minister of Land and Legal Affairs Saddam Hosein led the debate, saying the extension casts a wider and longer protective shield over the fruits of creative labour.
“In the case of joint authorship, the term is calculated from the death of the last surviving author. A familiar example is where a lyricist and a composer collaborate to create a single song intended to be exploited as one musical work. Protection, therefore, endures until 70 years after the death of the last surviving author, thereby ensuring that a joint creative effort is fully safeguarded.”
Minister Hosein added that the move brings Trinidad and Tobago in line with international standards.
“Several jurisdictions have increased the term of protection of the author’s life plus 70 after the author’s death. This appears to be the new global standard for the duration of copyright protection. The United States of America and Europe are critical markets for copyright-protected works created by Trinidad and Tobago authors. Most publishers and authors consider it the measure of success to seek and obtain publishing contracts in those markets. They have the extended terms. The retention of the current 50-year term of protection for sound recording will continue to subject the right holders to unfair competition in a fast-evolving digital ecosystem.”
He noted that the relevance of the Bill is further underscored by the transformation of the music industry.
“Previously, revenue was generated through physical formats, such as vinyl records and compact discs, CDs. However, today, digital platforms are prevalent, and streaming services such as Spotify, iTunes, and Amazon Music, among others, allow Trinidad and Tobago’s music to reach global audiences instantly but also require longer protection periods to ensure meaningful returns over time. This Bill ensures that our copyright framework keeps pace with technological shifts. Our artistes in their golden years will now enjoy longer periods of protection.”
Minister Hosein said the Bill ensures artistes can earn fair compensation throughout their lifetime and into their later years.