On Tuesday Mr. Buxton introduced in the House of Commons
the new Bill for altering the Law of Copyright. The principal changes proposed were that the formalities of registration should be abolished, that all species of work should be treated uniformly, that some species of work (such as lectures and architecture) should be better protected than they are at present, and finally, that the protection should last for the life of the author and fifty years afterwards. These proposals would, moreover, lead to the consolidation of about twenty enactments now in force, and would bring the country into line with the Colonies, as well as with the recommendations made at the Berlin Convention a few months ago. We wish Mr. Buxton's Bill success. No doubt the extension will not affect many authors—books seldom live fifty years longer than their writers—but every now and then authors or their descendants will obtain a benefit to which they are justly entitled.
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