Recordings of early Beatles songs like I Want to Hold Your Hand and other British classic rock hits could soon be free from copyright protection, if the government adopts the recommendations of a new report on intellectual property.

Details of Andrew Gowers's Review of Intellectual Property, which was commissioned by Britain's Treasury, were revealed in London Wednesday in relation to Finance Minister Gordon Brown's pre-budget speech.

If the British government follows the report's recommendations, the first few hits by the Beatles could fall out of copyright as early as 2012.
(Canadian Press)

The report rejected calls by aging musicians, record companies and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) to extend Britain's copyright on sound recordings to 95 years, from the current 50 years.

Cliff Richard, who recorded his first hit Move It! in 1958, was among those who led the way in calling for an extension.

If the government acts on the report's conclusion, sound recordings by artists such as Richard, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones would fall out of copy protection within a few years.

It was unclear whether the government would act on all of the report's recommendations, but the BPI — the group representing the mainstream British recording industry — said it would continue to push for the extension.

Canada and most European countries also have a 50-year copyright on sound recordings. However, the U.S. extended its copyright protection for sound recordings to 95 years in 1998.

Report gets tough on pirates

Other sections of the report were likely more palatable to artists, music labels and the BPI, including Gowers's tough words for intellectual property pirates.

The report called for a crackdown on music piracy and counterfeiting operations, including dramatically increasing the maximum prison sentences for those found guilty of online copyright infringement to 10 years from two.

Gowers had good news for music consumers, arguing they should also be protected and that it should be legal for those who purchase CDs to transfer their album purchases to MP3 format.

"The ideal IP system creates incentives for innovation, without unduly limiting access for consumers and follow-on innovators," Gowers said in a statement.

"It must strike the right balance in a rapidly changing world so that innovators can see further by standing on the shoulders of giants. And it must take tough action against those who infringe IP rights at a cost to the U.K.'s most creative industries."