The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1883. COPYRIGHT MUSIC.

Manawatu Standard, Volume 3, Issue 34, 5 January 1883, Page 2

The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, JANUARY 5, 1883. COPY RIGHT MUSIC.

Amateurs taking part m musical gatherings are m hourly dread of being proceeded against for involuntary breaches of the law m respect of copy* right music, la the majority of cases they do nob know, nor is there any convenient tneana of ascertaining whether certain songs or musical •. compositions are copyright or not j but so ! sure as the law is' infringed bo sure do detection and penalties follow. On the other hand the fee that is demanded for permission to &ing a prescribed song, or play a certain prohibited piece of music m: public is bo exorbitant that the proceeds of the concert, which are generally for a social or benevolent pur* pose, nre seriously drained by conforming to the rigid and extortionate claim preferred. In this connection we may cite the following remarks from a Home payer :— " Among the Acts which have somehow or other made, their way through the Parliamentary block of the lasb session j is one which wili relieve the anxiety of these goodnatured people who organise or assist at popular entertainments for social or benevolent purposes. Through a moßt excusable ignorance of law, many such persons have suffered much vexation. They have presided, or perhaps performed, at. a concert m- which a - perfect stranger baa sung a" song, or executed some musical composition on violin or piano. The piece may have been heard a hundred times at such gatherings before, and not till he .receive^ a de* mand for compensation, unconscious or involuntary of offence, did the unfortunate sufferer know thatby his act, or by his presence, he had infringed exclusive rightß of performance secured by formal registradnn. The printed, acore gave no warning, and even if the existence of such right had been suspected, reference to the official list was m most cases oat of the question. For the future dangers ot this kind are removed. The composer who retains the right of public representation or performance, or the person to whom he may assign it, must state the fact clearly m print on the title-page of every copy, so that the purchaser will know of the existence ot such restricrions." Now, this is what the Colonial law should! require m justice to the pubiic. Then there would be less reason for complaint, as everyone would know the full nature and extent of the risk he incurs. Some steps should be taken to have the present Jaw aU tered m the direction indicated.