CO885-(13-15) — Page 529

25957.

No. 158.

(CANADA.)

ملئيسيا

LONDON: PRINTED FOR HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY

OFFICE

BY DARLING & SON, LTD., 1-3. GREAT ST. THOMAS APOSTLE, EC.

1898.

MY LORD,

LAW OFFICERS TO FOREIGN OFFICE.

Royal Courts of Justice,

November 19, 1897.

We were honoured with your Lordship's commands signified in Sir Thomas Sanderson's letter of the 27th ultimo, relative to a complaint by the United States Government in respect to the action of the Government of Canada in refusing to admit citizens of the United States to the privilege of registration of copyright in Canada, notwithstanding the declaration of Her Majesty's Government that the Law of Copyright in force in all British possessions permits to United States citizens the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to British subjects.

We have taken the papers into our consideration, and, in obedience to your Lordship's commands, have the honour to

Report-

That we suggest that in answer to the United States Government it should be pointed out, as proposed, that subjects of the United States can obtain in Canada every privilege in a matter of copyright open to British subjects by registering at Stationers' Hall, and that under these circumstances the Law of Copyright in force in Canada does permit to citizens of the United States the benefit of copyright on substantially the same basis as to British subjects. The question whether registration should be under the Canadian or the Imperial Act is merely one of machinery, and the Imperial Act is in force in Canada.

Act.

At the same time we think that the United States Government may be informed that, as a matter of good feeling, Her Majesty's Government would be glad to do anything in their power to facilitate registration by subjects of the United States under the Canadian This must be a question for the Canadian Legislature, and it should, we think, be added that the passing of the desired amendment of the law in Canada would probably be very much facilitated if the United States would concede to Canadian authors the privilege of copyright upon publishing only in the United States.

It must, of course, be doubtful whether the United States will yield on this last point, and we feel strongly, in view of the great importance of the present arrangement for British authors, that an endeavour should be made to induce the Canadian Government to give way on what they admit to be a mere technicality, without making it a condition that the International arrangement now in force should be modified in substance.

We have, &c.,

RICHARD E. WEBSTER. ROBERT B. FINLAY.

The Marquess of Salisbury, K.G.,

&c.,

&c.,

&c.

15201-23-12/97

Wt 20260

D&S

↓

עבונו בורג

C.O.885

14 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- LUPTRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO