COPYRIGHT BILL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1798, 10 July 1913, Page 6

COPYRIGHT BILL.

SOME IMPORTANT PROPOSALS. Tho Copyright Bill, introduced by tho Hon. A. L_ Herdm an, repeals tho Acts rotating to copyright.at present in force in Now Zealand, and consolidates and amends tho law on the subject. Its ob- • jects aTo to-secure greater uniformity and reciprocity with fh<S United Kingdom and other parts of the Empire, as well as with "foreign countries!, and to ennblo tho result of recent conferences on tho subject to bo givenieffecttosofar as thia country is'concerned. "In acoordance with the measure, copyright will subsist not only in literary, musical, or artistic works, as "hitherto, but in lectures, works of architecture, mechanical-instrument .records and rolls:, and kinematograph films, and also oxtond to. translations. • It; will secure to tho author tho solo right to reproduce the wxxrk in any form, whether by translation, conversion of a. dTamatio work into a novo! or a novel into a dramatic work, or, in the caso of a literary, dramatic, or ; imisical work, to make any reSord, roll, kinematograph film, or other contrivance by means of which the work may be mechanically performed. • "The term of copyright is extended to tho

life of the author and fifty years after his death, subject, however, to a provision that during the last twenty-five years any person' may reproduce tho work on payment of a royalty of 10 per cent. "tinder tho Copyright Act, 1903, tho •term.of copyright in the caso of literary works is 28 years from the date of publication, and also if, at tho expiration of such period the author is then living-, for tho residue of his natural life.

"Registration is not required, but it may be effected., and summary remedies are rendered more easily obtainable in case of infringement. Provision is made for the grant of compulsory licenses in the case of posthumous works which are withheld from the public. Tho unpublished works of British subjects or residents within tho British Dominions are the subject of copyright, and publication is defined as meaning the issue of copies to tho public. The ownership of copyright and its duration in the caso of joint authors Is defined. Tho innocent infringer is oxompted from liability to pay damages, and copyright will not be infrinsed by any fair dealing witli a work for criticism, review, or newspaper summary (unJera in the latter caso publication is prohibited by notice), or. by the inclusion of short in schoolbooks, or by tho reproduction of paintings. etc., permanently situated in a public place." Tho foregoing particulars are contained' in an explanatory memorandum by tho law draftsman.

Previous Copyright Aots in Nnr Zealand weTe passed in 1842, 1877, 1879, 1896, and 1913 (two). These enactments were consolidated in 1908.