A VEXED QUESTION

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1932, Page 7

A VEXED QUESTION

PERFORMING RIGHTS ASSN. T (Australian Press Association.) ; ' SYDNEY, September > 23. Mr Justice Owen opened the Royal Commission to-day into the question of performing lights. He said that the .questions ’ Raised might well be of imperial and international!, and l not l merely ;of Australian importance. He had been commissioned to inquire and report upon •. questions ■ affecting the claims, rights and interests. of copyright works, and also the rights and claims of thoise performing such works. ■ ;Mr J. H. Kdating, who is appearing fop the Commonwealth', Attorney-Gen-eijaf, to assist the Commission, mentioned in the course of h* j address that considerable Complaint had been hiade to the Government that the clifli'gfes /.of .the Petfoi'ming Rights AsSpeitttieh had-been UnthaSbllably high. J.i'ile kettfing. WaS iftdjoliriledi • jMr Justice Owen said the questions fdr; deterniination were what corpora, tipns, companies’ and. associations were interested in . the nearer forms of entertainment, such as broadcasting, cinema exhibitions, gramophone records; and. whit rights did the public possess. Vossibly steamship owners, 'i and the proprietors of music , halls wbuld need to be represented. before the Commission.

.Mr Keating added : that there war an erroneous idea that an author should not have. any. profit from his work once it came under public notice.