Sir GILBERT PARKERasked the President of the Board of Trade if he was aware that the United States had increased the term of copyright, by 14 years, to a total of 56 years; and whether it was intended to revise the British law in the near future, so giving fuller justice to the products of authorship?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Churchill)I am informed that, under the new Copyright Law of the United States, which comes into force on 1st July, 1909, the initial term of copyright of 28 years remains unchanged, and that the further term which may be obtained by the author or his personal representatives has been increased from 14 to 28 years. An extension of the term of copyright given by British law is suggested by the revised international convention signed at Berlin in November, 1908, and the proposals of this Convention are now being examined by a Departmental Committee.
Sir GILBERT PARKERDo I understand that the statement in my question, as to a total of 56 years, is incorrect?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe statement which I have just made is correct.