COPYRIGHT ACT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20875, 15 November 1929, Page 9

COPYRIGHT ACT

FREE STATE LEGISLATION. A SECTION OBJECTED TO. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.^ LONDON, November 13. In the House of Lords Lord Danesfort drew attention to the Irish Free State Copyright Preservation Act, a section of which was designed’ to render nugatory an appeal pending in the Privy Council. He moved a motion disapproving of such legislation. Lord Passfield, replying, said he regretted that the subject bad been raised in the form of attacking dominion legislation. It was not constitutional to reflect on the action of a dominion Parliament. The motion must add 'to the difficulties of the Imperial Constitutional Law Conference, which was now sitting. The fact, was that the Act was introduced to prevent anyone taking advantage of the fact discovered in the Free State Supreme Court that no copyright law existed in Ireland between 1922 and 1927. “ I am speaking on, behalf of all the dominions when I suggest that it is pot a good plan to take any dominion Act and. ascribe intentions and motives to those introducing and passing it.” The Government had made representations to Dublin in July, and had got the Free State’s explanation, and had decided not to take further steps.

The Marquess of Salisbury: Tt» surely is not disrespectful to draw the attention of the Free State to the orderliness with which the great dominions accepted the law as it stood. Lord Dancsfort said he did not desire to injure the deliberations of the conference While protesting at Lord .Passfield’s action, he would' withdraw the motion.