§ Major ASTORasked the First Commissioner of Works whether the Government have copyright in the reports made by Royal Commissions, Departmental Committees, Government Departments, etc., and in the illustrations contained in such reports; and whether these reports and illustrations can be reproduced by unofficial persons or bodies without obtaining special authority?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe copy right in such reports and illustrations is, by Section 18 of the Copyright Act, 1911, vested in the Controller of His Majesty's Stationery Office as representing the Crown in this matter. Speaking generally, these reports and illustrations cannot be reproduced without the special authority of the Controller, but it is not the practice to enforce the rights of the Crown in the case of certain publications of public interest. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the House of Commons Paper, No. 292, of the year 1912.