660328-1888-Literary-and-Artistic-Works-Convention — Page 4

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 21ST JANUARY, 1888.

ARTICLE XIV.

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Under the reserves and conditions to be determined by common agreement,* the present Convention applies to all works which at the moment of its coming into force have not yet fallen into the public domain in the country of origin.

ARTICLE XV.

It is understood that the Governments of the countries of the Union reserve to themselves respectively the right to enter into separate and particular arrangements between each other, provided always that such arrangements confer upon authors or their lawful representatives more extended rights than those granted by the Union, or embody other stipulations not contrary to the present Convention.

ARTICLE XVI.

An international office is established, under the name of " Office of the International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works."

This Office, of which the expenses will be borne by the Administrations of all the countries of the Union, is placed under the high authority of the Superior Administration of the Swiss Confederation, and works under its direction. The functions of this Office are determined by common accord between the countries of the Union.

The present Convention may

ARTICLE XVII.

be submitted to revisions in order to introduce therein amendments calculated to perfect the system of the Union.

Questions of this kind, as well as those which are of interest to the Union in other respects, will be considered in Conferences to be held successively in the countries of the Union by Delegates of the said countries.

It is understood that no alteration in the present Convention shall be binding on the Union except by the unanimous consent of the countries composing it.

ARTICLE XVIII.

Countries which have not become parties to the present Convention, and which grant by their domestic law the protection of rights secured by this Convention, shall be admitted to accede thereto on request to that effect.

Such accession shall be notified in writing to the Government of the Swiss Confederation, who will communicate it to all the other countries of the Union.

Such accession shall imply full adhesion to all the clauses and admission to all the advantages provided by the present Convention.

ARTICLE XIX.

Countries acceding to the present Convention shall also have the right to accede thereto at any time for their Colonies or foreign possessions.

They may do this either by a general declaration comprehending all their Colonies or possessions within the accession, or by specially naming those comprised therein, or by simply indicating those which are excluded.

ARTICLE XX.

The present Convention shall be put in force three months after the exchange of the ratifications, and shall remain in effect for an indefinite period until the termination of a year from the day on which

may have been denounced.

it

Such denunciation shall be made to the Government authorized to receive accessions, and shall only be effective as regards the country making it, the Convention remaining in full force and effect for the other countries of the Union.

ARTICLE XXI.

The present Convention shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged at Berne, within the space of one year at the latest.

In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto. the seal of their arms.

Done at Berne, the 9th day of September, 1886.

(L.S.)

F. O. ADAMS.

(L.S.)

J. H. G. BERGNE.

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

(L.S.)

OTTO VON BÜLOW.

MAURICE DELFOSSE.

COMTE DE LA ALMINA Y CASTRO.

JOSÉ VILLA-AMIL.

EMMANUEL ARAGO.

LOUIS JOSEPH JANVIER.

E. DI BECCARIA.

KENTZER.

(L.S.)

DROZ.

(L.S.)

L. RUCHONNET.

(L.S)

A. D'ORELLI.

(L.S.)

L. RENAULT.

* See paragraph 4 of Final Protocol, p. 15.