§ Captain Henry KerbyI beg leave to present a humble petition signed by 594 British composers and authors, including Sir Arthur Bliss, Sir. Alan Herbert, Sir Compton Mackenzie, Mr. Benjamin Britten and Mr. Henry Hall.
By this petition, your petitioners,
pray and beseech that the Copyright Bill, 1955, as reprinted on 31st July, 1956, be amended by the deletion from Clause 8 of the record manufacturers' licence-of-right and by the simplification of the procedure for the revision of the rate of royalty prescribed in subsection (3).Secondly, that Clause 6 (7) be withdrawn as being inequitable in itself and in its consequences.And finally,that as the foundation and the fortress of copyright are to establish and secure composers and authors against abuse and exploitation by vested interests … your petitioners look with faith and hope to Parliament itself for protection of liberties hardly won and vigilantly cherished.And your petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.To lie upon the Table.