Charles Clark (publisher)
Encyclopedia
Charles David Lawson Clark (12 June 1933 – 6 October 2006) was a British publisher and lawyer, who was an authority on the law of copyright
.
before reading law at Jesus College, Oxford
. He was an editor for the legal publishers Sweet and Maxwell and was then called to the bar by Inner Temple
in 1960. He then worked for Penguin Books
, commissioning various titles on the “Pelican” list and the New Penguin Shakespeare. He was appointed managing director of Penguin Education in 1966, and also of Allen Lane/Penguin Press (which printed hardback books) in 1967. He then moved to Hutchinson as managing director, succeeding Sir Robert Lusty
, then became chairman, with authors including Frederick Forsyth
and Anthony Burgess
.
He assisted the Publishers' Association with its submissions to the Whitford committee on copyright law, which led to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
. He became legal advisor to the Association after leaving Hutchinson in 1984, working with copyright issues at national and international level (including the consequences of European legislation such as extending copyright from 50 to 70 years after the year in which the author died, and of membership of the World Trade Organisation. He was concerned to ensure that there was a fair system of remuneration for authors and for publishers. He helped establish the Copyright Licensing Agency in 1983, acting as its legal adviser until 1999. He also worked for the Federation of European Publishers
and International Publishers Copyright Council on copyright matters, and was general editor of Publishing Agreements: a Book of Precedents (1980). Other work was published under the title The Answer to the Machine is in the Machine and Other Collected Writings (2005). His knowledge of copyright law led to him being described by Mark Le Fanu, of the Society of Authors
, as "the peer of contracts experts, Lord Clark of Copyright".
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
.
Life
Clark was born in London and studied at Edinburgh AcademyEdinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
before reading law at Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College, Oxford
Jesus College is one of the colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is in the centre of the city, on a site between Turl Street, Ship Street, Cornmarket Street and Market Street...
. He was an editor for the legal publishers Sweet and Maxwell and was then called to the bar by Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1960. He then worked for Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
, commissioning various titles on the “Pelican” list and the New Penguin Shakespeare. He was appointed managing director of Penguin Education in 1966, and also of Allen Lane/Penguin Press (which printed hardback books) in 1967. He then moved to Hutchinson as managing director, succeeding Sir Robert Lusty
Robert Lusty
Sir Robert Frith Lusty was a British journalist and publisher.Robert Lusty was born in Cheltenham and educated at Sidcot School. He became an apprentice reporter at the Kent Messenger in 1927 but he was forced to resign because of heart problems. In 1928 he was taken on by Walter Hutchinson, the...
, then became chairman, with authors including Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth
Frederick Forsyth, CBE is an English author and occasional political commentator. He is best known for thrillers such as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Fourth Protocol, The Dogs of War, The Devil's Alternative, The Fist of God, Icon, The Veteran, Avenger, The Afghan and The Cobra.-...
and Anthony Burgess
Anthony Burgess
John Burgess Wilson – who published under the pen name Anthony Burgess – was an English author, poet, playwright, composer, linguist, translator and critic. The dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange is Burgess's most famous novel, though he dismissed it as one of his lesser works...
.
He assisted the Publishers' Association with its submissions to the Whitford committee on copyright law, which led to the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
The Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 , also known as the CDPA, is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which received Royal Assent on 15 November 1988. It reformulates almost completely the statutory basis of copyright law in the United Kingdom, which had, until then, been...
. He became legal advisor to the Association after leaving Hutchinson in 1984, working with copyright issues at national and international level (including the consequences of European legislation such as extending copyright from 50 to 70 years after the year in which the author died, and of membership of the World Trade Organisation. He was concerned to ensure that there was a fair system of remuneration for authors and for publishers. He helped establish the Copyright Licensing Agency in 1983, acting as its legal adviser until 1999. He also worked for the Federation of European Publishers
Federation of European Publishers
Federation of European Publishers is an independent, non-commercial association of book publishers associations in the European Union.-Members:* Austria — Hauptverband des Österreichischen Buchhandels* Belgium — Association des Editeurs Belges...
and International Publishers Copyright Council on copyright matters, and was general editor of Publishing Agreements: a Book of Precedents (1980). Other work was published under the title The Answer to the Machine is in the Machine and Other Collected Writings (2005). His knowledge of copyright law led to him being described by Mark Le Fanu, of the Society of Authors
Society of Authors
The Society of Authors is a trade union for professional writers that was founded in 1884 to protect the rights of writers and fight to retain those rights .It has counted amongst its members and presidents numerous notable writers and poets including Tennyson The Society of Authors (UK) is a...
, as "the peer of contracts experts, Lord Clark of Copyright".