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An Act to amend and consolidate the Law relating to Copyright.
[16th December 1911]
C1This Act is not necessarily in the form in which it has effect in Northern Ireland
I1Act wholly in force in the United Kingdom at 1.7.1912 by s. 37(2) (now repealed)
F1Ss. 1–14, 16–33, 35, 36, Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Copyright Act 1956 (c. 74), Schs. 7–9
(1)The publisher of every book published in the United Kingdom shall, within one month after the publication, deliver, at his own expense, a copy of the book to the [F1British Library Board], who shall give a written receipt for it.
(2)He shall also, if written demand is made before the expiration of twelve months after publication, deliver within one month after receipt of that written demand or, if the demand was made before publication, within one month after publication, to some depot in London named in the demand a copy of the book for, or in accordance with the directions of, the authority having the control of each of the following libraries, namely: the Bodleian Library, Oxford, the University Library, Cambridge, [F2the National Library of Scotland], and the Library of Trinity College, Dublin, and subject to the provisions of this section the National Library of Wales. In the case of an encyclopaedia newspaper, review, magazine, or work published in a series of numbers or parts, the written demand may include all numbers or parts of the work which may be subsequently published.
(3)The copy delivered to the [F1British Library Board] shall be a copy of the whole book with all maps and illustrations belonging thereto, finished and coloured in the same manner as the best copies of the book are published, and shall be bound, sewed, or stitched together, and on the best paper on which the book is printed.
(4)The copy delivered for the other authorities mentioned in this section shall be on the paper on which the largest number of copies of the book is printed for sale, and shall be in the like condition as the books prepared for sale.
(5)The books of which copies are to be delivered to the National Library of Wales shall not include books of such classes as may be specified in regulations to be [F3made by the Lord President of the Council.]
(6)If a publisher fails to comply with this section, he shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five pounds and the value of the book, and the fine shall be paid to the [F1British Library Board] or authority to whom the book ought to have been delivered.
(7)For the purposes of this section, the expression “book” includes every part or division of a book, pamphlet, sheet of letterpress, sheet of music, map, plan, chart or table separately published, but shall not include any second or subsequent edition of a book unless such editions contain additions or alterations either in the letterpress or in the maps, prints, or other engravings belonging thereto.
F1Words substituted by virtue of British Library Act 1972 (c. 54), s. 4(1)
F2Words substituted by National Library of Scotland Act 1925 (c. 73), s. 5(1)
F3Words substituted by S.I. 1986/600, art. 6(1), Sch. 2
C1Unreliable margin note
C2S. 15(1) amended by British Museum Act 1932 (c. 34), s. 1(1)
C3Functions of the Secretary of State and of the Board of Trade under s. 15(5) transferred to the Lord President of the Council: S.I. 1986/600, art. 2(4)
C4S. 15(5): Functions of the Lord President of the Council under s. 15(5) transferred (3.7.1992) to the Secretary of State by S.I. 1992/1311, arts. 3(1), 12(4), Sch. 1 Pt.I
S. 15(5) modified (1.7.1999) by S.I. 1999/672, art. 5, Sch. 2; S.I. 1998/3178, art. 3
C5Criminal Justice Act 1982 (c.48, SIF 39:1), ss. 38 (increase of fines) and 46 apply (E.W.) and Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (c.21, SIF 39:1), ss. 289F (increase of fines) and 289G (conversion to levels on the standard scale) apply (S.)
F1Ss. 1–14, 16–33, 35, 36, Schs. 1, 2 repealed by Copyright Act 1956 (c. 74), Schs. 7–9
Copyright Act 1911