COPYRIGHT MUSIC
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—There is an objection to the method of collection of the composer's fee by the Performing Right Society which your correspondent, Lord Elmley, has overlooked. Up and down the country there are village halls, the majority of which are probably vested in voluntary trustees. I am myself a trustee of three at this moment. We have been in the habit of allow- ing the use of these halls for social and charitable purposes in the past, including concerts. We are now told that in so doing we are rendering ourselves liable to an action at the hands of what is apparently a self-constituted body, unless we conform to its demands, which include, inter alia, an annual return of the performances which have been held in our hall at which any song or composition of which they may happen to hold the copyright has been performed.
Not for a moment do I grudge the composer his fee, nor do I question his right to combine to secure it, but it is surely against the infringer that he should proceed, and not throw the onus of collecting his fee upon the shoulders of a third party who is simply performing a gratuitous public service and has little or no opportunity of knowing what music is performed in the hall of which he is a trustee, and still less whether it happens to come within the repertoire of the Performing Right Society.
Life is quite strenuous enough in these days without saddling voluntary public service with such additional burdens.— I am, Sir, &c., HUGH GOODACRE. Ulledhorpe Court, near Rugby.
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