A joint press release by European academics says: [1]
If Europe wishes to keep its ability to innovate, it must not lock in the current industry structure at a moment of great technological change, it must not inhibit digital creators and archives in the exploration of music - music which has been paid for once already, during the existing term!
The public will not be fooled. If copyright law, cynically, departs from its purpose, piracy becomes an easy option.
We urge the European Parliament, and the governments of member states of the European Union, to consider carefully the independent evidence on copyright term extension, and reject the Directive in its proposed form.
I was made aware of this through:
http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/11/europeans-act-now-to.html
You should join them in urging your MEPs to vote no to the extension of copyright. It's clear that it's not in the public's interest to have a copyright span longer than a human can live.
1. http://www.cippm.org.uk/copyright_term.html