Abstract

This article addresses one of the most common justifications of the optimal duration of copyright in music business in Finland. The research material consists of half-structured theme interviews and the method used is theory-based content analysis. The interpretational theory used is the model of justification of copyright by Laura Leppämäki. Thirty-one informants representing a wide spectrum of expertise in Finnish music business were interviewed during March-October 2016. The results state the following: Copyright is often seen as a natural item of ownership, claimed by work, and especially as a subject of inheritance, preferably for two subsequent generations. However, simple arithmetic discloses the current duration lasts longer than the average life expectancy of the grandchildren of the author. If two generations are seen as an optimal duration, copyright should last 60 years after authors death. The member states of EU have until June 7th 2021 to introduce the new Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market — in which the duration remains the current 70 years — within their countries. This article argues that if the duration is justified as a subject of inheritance, it should be shortened. Another possibility is to alter the justification entirely.