Here's an example letter, with talking points below that:

Dear [Your MEP],

I write to state my opposition to extension of the term of copyright protection for sound recordings and ask you to vote against this misguided Directive.

The proposal is at odds with the the basic function copyright - to encourage intellectual production by incentivising the creation of new works - in offering a retrospective extension of rights. The additional monopoly costs would be a tax on consumers, the vast majority of which - around 80% - funds major record labels. Worse still, the rhetoric used by the Directive's sponsors - of providing financial support to aging performers - masks the actual benefit of only a few tens of euros per years to the vast majority of musicians. This of course comes at the expense of consumers but also other performers and competing record companies.

Please vote against this directive. I would be more than happy to discuss the issue with you or your staff.

Yours

[Your name]

Talking points

1. Who you are (i.e. one of their constituents!)
2. What you are writing about: "Proposal to extend copyright in sound recordings"
3. What your basic position is (e.g. opposed)
4. Why e.g.
   Retrospective: never justified (copyright is about rewarding creation of new works)
   • Large costs to consumers
   • Benefits primarily to major labels (~80%)
   • Misleading talk of poor performers (worse off 80% of performers will share approx 5% of less of benefits: 50c - a few tens of euros a year)
   • Will harm EU economy (more money for foreign shareholders and artists than for EU firms -- and that's leaving aside harm to consumers!)
   • Cite studies and widespread opposition from experts such as academics See recent PR and associated list of studies.
5. Close by asking your MEP to vote against directive (or, at very least, support the amendments to make extension prospective only).

Your MEPs need to know voters are concerned and paying attention. You may also want to use our guide to lobbying your MEPs (click to download) and a briefing pack (click to download).