PROTECTING ARCHITECTS

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 183, 17 May 1939, Page 4

PROTECTING ARCHITECTS

HO USE ... DE3I’GNS CGPIEiI) COPYRIGHTING PROPOSAL JOHANNESBURG, .March Ml—The' question whether architects’ designs for houses and buildings should be copyright to prevent. unauthorised ‘‘cribbing” by outsider's is agitating tliei architectural prolesson in South Africa. Efforts are being made to put a stop to what has become a flagrant abuse. '• Plans arc afoot to introduce a bill into Parliament making it a criminal offence to copy plans without permission. Professional societies have been in -touch with each other to ascertain the best method! of carrying out the proposals. _ “The public has no idea what dimensions this habit of ‘cribbing’ has attained in South Africa,” said an architect. ‘‘Cases have been, mentioned where houses of uiiusually attractive design, standing empty, were visited by people with tape measures and other paraphernalia to get the exact dimensions of various features.”