§ Viscount Mahonsaid, that in asking for leave to bring in a bill to amend the law of copyright, it was not his intention to raise a discussion. The subject had been frequently before the House, and he would, therefore, only state in a very few words the nature of the alterations which it was his intention to propose. Sergeant Talfourd proposed to extend the protection of copyright to sixty years. It was his (Lord Mahon's) intention to reduce the period to twenty-five years, and he would introduce a clause to prevent the suppression of valuable works by the representatives of a deceased author, by giving the power to a committee of the Privy Council to interfere to prevent such a suppression.
§ Mr. Wakleysaid, he should not oppose the present motion of the noble Lord. It had not, however, been proved that an extension of twenty-five years might not 1430 be just as objectionable as an extension of sixty years. He hoped the noble Lord would be prepared to show some good reason why the author of a book was entitled to more protection than the author of a new invention, and if sufficient reason for such a preference could not be shown, he hoped the noble Lord would be unsuccessful in his attempt.
§ Mr. Jervissaid, he hoped the noble Lord would not proceed farther with his bill till after Easter.
§ Lord Mahonwould not pledge himself so far, but he would give sufficient notice of the next stage.
§ Leave given.