HC Deb 18 May 1814 vol 27 cc965-6

The House resolved itself into a committee on this Bill, in which

Mr. D. Giddy

stated, that, from a reconsideration of the clauses, it was wished that this commitment should only be pro forma, and that it should be re-committed when the Bill was more completely in the possession of the members. For the satisfaction of those present, however, he wished shortly to run over the clauses of the Bill, as it had been altered and now stood. The clauses provided—1. That it should not be necessary that the copies of books presented to public libraries should be on fine paper.—2. That no book need be presented to these libraries, unless such as were required from the booksellers.—3. That all copy rights should be entered at Stationers'-hall; and that if the author, by a special entry, waved his copy right, he should then only be required to present one copy to the British Museum.—4. That the term of copy right be extended from 14 years certain, and another 14 years if the author was living at the end of the first term, to 28 years certain. There was another clause which the hon. member said had been presented to him by the booksellers; to provide, that improper use should not be made of the books presented to the public libraries, as it had been said that they were sometimes sold. These clauses, on the suggestion of Mr. Bankes, were then received for the purpose of being printed. The House then resumed, and the Report being received, was ordered to be taken into consideration on the 27th instant.