PERFORMING RIGHTS

Grey River Argus, 24 September 1932, Page 4

PERFORMING RIGHTS

A Vexed Question AUSTRALIAN INQUIRY. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn). SYDNEY, September 23. Mr Justice Owen opened the Royal Commission to-day into the question of performing rights. He said that the questions raised might well be of imperial and international, and not merely of Australian importance. He had been commissioned to inquire and report upon questions affecting the claims, rights and interests of those interested in the ownership of copyright works, and also the rights and claims of those performing such works. Mr J. H. Keating, who is appearing for the Commonwealth. Attorney-Gen-eral, to assist the Commission, mentioned in the course of his address that considerable complaint had been made to the Government that the charges of the Performing Rights Association had been unreasonably high. The hearing was adjourned. Mr Justice Owen said the questions for determination were what corporations. companies and associations were interested in the newer forms of entertainment. such as broadcasting, cinema exhibitions, gramophone records; and what rights did the public possess. Possibly steamship owners, and the proprietors of music halls would need to be represented before the Commission. Mr Keating added that there was an erroneous idea that an author should not have any profit from his work once it came under public notice.