British pop legend Sir Cliff Richard has mixed emotions after winning a ruling which extends copyright laws for songwriters, insisting stars should retain royalties for life.
The 71-year-old crooner was the driving force behind a campaign to let songwriters hold on to the rights to their music for longer, and last month (Sep11), members of the European Union Council voted to extend copyright on sound recordings from 50 to 70 years.
Richard, who faced losing royalties to many of his songs as the 50-year deadline loomed, admits he is pleased by the ruling, but still can't understand why copyright can be taken away from songwriters who are still alive.
He tells Britain's Bbc Breakfast, "I don't know how to deal with it... The fact they are going to raise it to 70, I have to be grateful for that... but there's so many people against you... When I make my records, how do you think I buy my house?... I have to work for it...
"You make this record, and then someone takes it away from you before you're even dead. I'm not the best person to talk about it, as I still have my career. But I don't understand how they can take something away from you that is yours."