¿
'x
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 20TH OCTOBER, 1886.
999
The Board of Trade have carefully considered the important question raised by the suggestion of an amendment of the existing English Copyright Law with the object of placing this country in a position to enter into any Copyright Convention which the various States represented at the Conference, or some of them, may ultimately agree to join,
While the Board of Trade are fully alive to the present unsatisfactory state of the English Copy- right Law, they must, at the same time, recognize that collateral points of a disputable character are involved in any attempted legislation of this nature.
It is apparent that the proposals of the Conference go far beyond any mere amendment of the Law by a repeal of those minor requirements touching registration, deposit of copies, and translations. The suggestion, for instance, that throughout the Union there shall be one uniform period for the duration of copyright, extending a specified period beyond the author's life, raises a serious question of principle. Although the suggestion is one favoured by the Royal Commission on Copyright, the Board of Trade think the proposal would lead to prolonged discussion.
There is, however, a further and still more important consideration which induces the Board of Trade to hesitate before initiating any legislation. This is the non-participation of the United States' Government in the propositions of the Conference, and the probability that the terms of the Convention will contain stipulations of a nature unacceptable to that Government.
The Board of Trade are therefore disposed to think it very unadvisable, in view of the extreme importance of American copyright to English authors, and the negotiations still pending with the United States' Government, that any steps should at this time be taken to alter the English Law, and they would certainly at present advise the avoidance of any course which would commit Her Majesty's Government to any legislation with regard to copyright.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
HENRY G. CALCRAFT.
My Lord,
No. 33.
M. Vernet to Earl Granville.--(Received May 6.)
Consulat-Général de Suisse, 25, Old Broad Street,
May 5, 1885.
I HAVE the honour to inclose a Circular note from the Swiss Federal Council expressing the hope that Her Majesty's Government will send a Representative to the next International Copyright Conference, which is to assemble on the 7th September at Berne.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
H. VERNET,
Agent and Consul-General for Switzerland.
My Lord,
Inclosure in No. 33.
The President of the Swiss Confederation to Eart Granville...
(Translation.)
Berne, April 24, 1885.
A DRAFT International Convention for the Protection of the Rights of Authors, with an Additional Article, a Protocole de Clôture, and a statement of the principles recommended for an eventual unification was signed at Berne on the 18th September, 1884, at a Conference which was attended by the Delegates of twelve States.
As it was there arranged, we, on the 17th October, 1884, notified officially this scheme to all the Powers, inviting them to communicate to us, before the 1st April, 1885, any observations which they might have to make on the suggestions which were submitted to them, at the same time asking those Powers who were not represented at the Conference to associate themselves in the further steps which might be taken with the object of assuring the constitution of the International Union for the Protection of the Rights of Authors.
Of all the answers received, that of the French Government is the only one in which it is proposed to make alterations in the text worked out by the Conference of 1884: this we publish in its entirety
as an annex.
Belgium criticizes in general terms the draft Additional Article in so far as it suppresses the provisions of the existing Conventions which would confer on authors lesser rights than those accorded by the Union; also the retroactive power given to the Convention by Article XV.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.