COPYRIGHT WORKS

Southland Times, Issue 21820, 24 September 1932, Page 5

COPYRIGHT WORKS

PERFORMING RIGHTS QUESTION. ROYAL COMMISSION OPENS. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) (Rec. 9.30 p.m.) Sydney, September 23. Mr Justice Owen, opening the Royal Commission to-day on performing rights, said the questions, raised might well be of Imperial and international and not merely 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 the rights and claims of those performing such works. 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 and gramophone records; and what rights did the public possess? Possibly steamship owners and proprietors of music shops would need to be represented before the commission.

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 Keating added that there was an erroneous idea that an author should not have any profits from his work once it came under the public notice.