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Charles Oppenheim (É«ºÐÖ±²¥S, March 17) asserts that the planned extension of United Kingdom copyright to 70 years post mortem does not entail harmonisation with European copyright law.

Your correspondent should study the consultation paper on the new legislation produced by the Patent Office last December. This document states quite unambiguously that the law is to be changed because of the UK's obligation to comply with the recent EC directive harmonising the duration of copyright in the European Union. What more proof does Mr Oppenheim want?

PATRICK PARRINDER

Professor of English

University of Reading