The Colonial Copyright Act, 1847 — 10 & 11 Vict. C. 951744
An Act to amend the Law relating to the Protection in the Colonies of Works entitled to Copyright in the United Kingdom.
[22nd July 1847.]
5 & 6 Vict. c. 45.
8 & 9 Vict. c. 93.
Her Majesty may suspend in certain Cases the Prohibitions against the Admission of pirated Books into the Colonies in certain Cases.
I. Whereas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament holden in the Fifth and Sixth Years of Her present Majesty, intituled An Act to amend the Law of Copyright, it is amongst other things enacted, that it shall not be lawful for any Person not being the Proprietor of the Copyright, or some Person authorised by him, to import into any Part of the United Kingdom, or into any other Part of the British Dominions, for Sale or Hire, any printed Book first composed or written or printed or published in any Part of the United Kingdom wherein there shall be Copyright, and reprinted in any Country or Place whatsoever out of the British Dominions: And whereas by an Act passed in the Session of Parliament holden in the Eighth and Ninth Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, intituled An Act to regulate the Trade of the British Possessions abroad, Books wherein the Copyright is subsisting, first composed or written or printed in the United Kingdom, and printed or reprinted in any other Country, are absolutely prohibited to be imported into the British Possessions abroad: And whereas by the said last-recited Act it is enacted, that all Laws, Bye-Laws, Usages, or Customs in practice, or endeavoured or pretended to be in force or practice in any of the British Possessions in America, which are in anywise repugnant to the said Act or to any Act of Parliament made or to be made in the United Kingdom, so far as such Act shall relate to and mention the said Possessions, are and shall be null and void to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever:1745 In case the Legislature or proper legislative Authorities in any British Possession shall be disposed to make due Provision for securing or protecting the Rights of British Authors in such Possession, and shall pass an Act or make an Ordinance for that Purpose, and shall transmit the same in the proper Manner to the Secretary of State, in order that it may be submitted to Her Majesty, and in case Her Majesty shall be of opinion that such Act or Ordinance is sufficient for the Purpose of securing to British Authors reasonable Protection within such Possession, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, if She think fit so to do, to express Her Royal Approval of such Act or Ordinance, and thereupon to issue an Order in Council declaring that so long as the Provisions of such Act or Ordinance continue in force within such Colony the Prohibitions contained in the aforesaid Acts, and hereinbefore recited, and any Prohibitions contained in the said Acts or in any other Acts against the importing, selling, letting out to hire, exposing for Sale or Hire, or possessing Foreign Reprints of Books first composed, written, printed, or published in the United Kingdom, and entitled to Copyright therein, shall be suspended so far as regards such Colony; and thereupon such Act or Ordinance shall come into operation, except so far as may be otherwise provided therein, or as may be otherwise directed by such Order in Council, any thing in the said last-recited Act or in any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding.
Orders in Council to be published in Gazette. Orders in Council and the Colonial Acts or Ordinances to be laid before Parliament. Act may be amended, &c.
II. Every such Order in Council shall, within One Week after the issuing thereof, be published in the London Gazette, and a Copy thereof, and of every such Colonial Act or Ordinance so approved as aforesaid by Her Majesty, shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within Six Weeks after the issuing of such Order, if Parliament be then sitting, or if Parliament be not then sitting, then within Six Weeks after the opening of the next Session of Parliament.
III. And be it enacted, This Act may be amended or repealed by any Act to be passed in the present Session of Parliament.1746