COMMONS AMENDMENT (Hansard, 30 October 1956)

§ LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, we now pass to Clause 13, which is about copyright in cinematograph films. In another place, it was pointed out that the orders for most advertising films are, in fact, placed by an advertising agent, contracting as a principal, and not. as is assumed in the proviso in the Bill, by the manufacturer of the goods or the purveyor of the services to be advertised. It was generally accepted that the ownership of the copyright in advertising films ought not to be vested in the maker, though whether it should vest in the advertiser or the advertising agent seemed a more open question. The probability is that conditions vary in particular cases. In all the circumstances. Her Majesty's Government thought it best that the proviso should be omitted. There can be little doubt that, in general, advertising agents are likely to have the copyright issue in mind and will be sufficiently well advised to see that the intentions of the parties are properly described in contracts. Accordingly, it seems preferable to Her Majesty's Government to leave this matter to be settled in this way, rather than by inventing presumptions which may not be correct. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.