Royalties on Radio

Radio Record, Volume II, Issue 53, 19 July 1929, Page 7

Royalties on Radio

New Zealand’s Fortunate Position A RECENT Press cable told how radio traders in.Great Britain are pertutbed by a decision of the English courts ih regard to royalties on valve sockets, which means that traders (or manufacturers) must pay the Marconi Company 12s.’6d. on every valve holder used in a set. Ona five-valve set this means £3 2s. 6d., which, of course, has to be added to the price. The cable states that a ‘great falling off of sales is the result. 7 "This was the result of an appeal of the Marconi Conipany against the decision of the Comptrotler of Patents which had reduced their scale of royalties from 12s. 6d, per valve holder to a minimum charge of 5s. on the first Valve holder and 2s. 6d. on each additional valve. The radio trade in New Zealand and Australia is in a much happier position. The rights of the Marconi Company are held here by Amalgamated Wireless, which is a semi-Government organisation. About two yéars ago the question of royalties arose, and, at the suggestion of Mr. BH. T. Fisk, managing director of Amalgamated Wireless, arrangements .were made by the Governments of New Zealand and Australia which relieved’ .dealers and manufacturers entirely for a period of five years from the obligation to pay royalties. Listeners, of course, do not pay either, the only royalties paid being by the transmitting. companies. Thus the price of: receivers is kept to a minimum, enabling New Zealand and Australian manufacturers to compete on favourable terms with the rest of the world. where heavy royalties are paid.