Protesting against the government decision, artists this week took out an ad in the Financial Times on behalf of 3500 recording companies and 40,000 supporters. The British Phonographic Industry is lobbying for a copyright extension to 95 years, the same as in the United States. Copyright has been extended several times in the US, with another 20 years added in 1998 under the Sonny Bono Copyright Term Extension Act, sometimes referred to as the Mickey Mouse Protection Act.

While rejecting calls to extend copyright protection, the 146-page review of intellectual property laws called for measures to crack down on piracy and counterfeiting. It also recommended consumers be allowed to legally transfer music they purchase on CD to an MP3 player.

The Australian government was forced to modify similar laws before the passed through the Senate this week. Initially the legalisation was word such that it would have made simply owning an iPod, camera phone or a DVD recorder enough to attract a large fine or even jail term. The amendments also removed on-the-spot fines for some copyright offences.{moscomment}