SECOND READING. (Hansard, 8 April 1886)

§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. BRYCE) (Aberdeen, S.)
I beg to move the second reading of this Bill; but at this late hour of the evening I do not propose to do more than ask the House to listen to a few remarks as to the general object of the Bill, which I hope will not be without interest. The Bill is intended to give protection to literary property. A larger measure on the subject will be introduced before long; but it is proposed to hold another International Copyright Convention in September of this year, and it is desirable that Her Majesty shall be empowered until then to enter into the International Copyright Union. I believe the late Government intimated their intention that we should enter it, and the present Government have also done so. It is with that view that this Bill is introduced into the House—namely, with the object of carrying out the provisions of the International Copyright Convention. I do not think, Sir, that I need go at any length into the provisions of the Bill, because they are so complicated that it would be difficult to do so without occupying the attention of the House too long, and because they are really more applicable for discussion in Committee. I would just call the attention of the House to some important provisions. There is a point connected with Her Majesty's other Possessions in Clauses 8 and 9 on which I must say a word or two, because it is a matter of public interest. It arises in regard to whether Her Majesty shall enter into the International Copyright Union only on behalf of Great Britain, or also on behalf of the other Dominions of the Crown. It is thought that it will be well for the Empire at large if we were to enter for the Colonies and India as well as for Great Britain; but, on the other hand, we thought that we could 1143 not do this without the sanction of the Colonies; and accordingly it is provided that Her Majesty shall be empowered by Order in Council to include any British Possession, but that this shall not be done without the assent of the Colonies. Therefore, it will be in the choice of the Colony interested whether Her Majesty shall enter the Union for them or not. Another very desirable provision has been introduced. It was found necessary to deal with the question of copyright between this country and the Colonies and the Colonies themselves. The House is aware that a British author publishing his work first in England has a copyright over the whole Empire; but there is unhappily in this matter no reciprocity, and a work published in one of the Colonies or India has been only copyright for that Colony or for India, as the case may be. There is no copyright elsewhere, and thereby a Colonial author suffers great injustice. In other words, we in England have secured our own interests, but we have neglected those of the Colonial author; and, therefore, this Bill provides for the establishment of an Imperial Copyright for the whole British Dominions, and the effect will be that an author first publishing in one of the Colonies or India will have the same rights as the British author now possesses. We have some reason to believe that the Colonies will be glad to accept the measure; but, at the same time, we must endeavour not to go behind Colonial wishes, we must endeavour to meet the wishes of the Colonists themselves; and, therefore, we propose not to proceed with the clauses which relate to the Colonies, or, at any rate, we will not carry them through both Houses of Parliament without first of all ascertaining the wishes of the Colonists and India. We feel that, whatever our own views may be, it would not be right for this Parliament to deal with the question themselves; and we propose, therefore, to await the wishes of the Colonies. If we find that they accept the Bill, we will pass it as it now stands; but if any of them object and desire the continuance of the existing state of things, no alteration will be made as far as they are concerned. These, in general terms, are the provisions of the Bill, and at this stage I do not think I need say any more. I hope that the House will 1144 appreciate the necessity for pressing the Bill forward, so as to enable Her Majesty to enter into this Copyright Convention; and I hope also that they will appreciate the spirit in which it has been introduced, which is to consolidate good feeling between this ountry and the Colonies.

§ MR. E. STANHOPE (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)
I would ask the hon. Gentleman who has charge of the Bill to give us a little time to consider it before the second reading. It is rather a complicated Bill, and I want a little time to examine its provisions.

§ MR. PLUNKET (Dublin University)
I am extremely glad that the Government have gone so far as they have done in this Bill; But I sincerely trust that some hope will be held out to us that a larger measure will be introduced.

§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. MUNDELLA) (Sheffield, Brightside)
The object of this Bill is to enable us to carry out the provisions of the International Copyright Convention of Berne. The Lord Chancellor has under consideration a larger measure upon this subject.

§ MR. TOMLINSON (Preston)
I hope care will be taken to see that arrangements entered into with other countries are understood in the same sense by those other countries as they are by ourselves.