§ Mr. LLOYDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the question of fees for performing rights of musical productions; whether the methods of collecting such fees by persons interested in such performing rights have been brought to his notice; and whether, in view of the uncertainty and doubt raised in the minds of the promoters of small concerts and charity performances, he will institute legislation which will provide a clear warning of their liability to any person performing any such production?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSThe answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the third part, I would point out that the Copyright Act, 1911, confers upon the author of a musical work the sole right to authorise its performance in public, and provides that any person who performs that work in public, without the consent of the owner of the copyright, shall be deemed to have infringed the copyright in the work.