| Content | Record of the SNKLHU hearing on the complaint of B. BM was represented in this matter by the notary Sylvie B. Goldestein, and in 1953 they wrote their first complaint about the neglect of the dissemination of BM's works. The complaint was sent by SNKLHU in August 1953 to the State Committee for Art Affairs with a request for instructions on how to resolve the situation. Following this, a meeting was held at the end of September 1953, the result of which was that the Union of Czechoslovak Composers should ideologically evaluate BM's works. It was further resolved that everything possible would be done to ensure that the publishing rights would be preserved for Czechoslovakia. To this end, it was necessary to arrange for the publication of the remaining five compositions and catalogues of all BM works published in Czechoslovakia, to commission uniform guidelines for the promotion of BM, to search for publishing contracts with BM, and to prepare a reply to BM and its legal representative. This letter was sent in early October. In the December reply, BM maintained its original position. BM cancels all publishing rights granted to them by the SNKLHU, except for the rights for the USSR and the countries of the people's democracies, as long as it receives royalties and fees. It is admitted here that under oral instructions BM's compositions can only be sold but not promoted or performed. With rare exceptions, BM's works are not performed at all, resulting in low performance royalties. Gramophone factories both record and sell BM works. It is therefore necessary to appeal in writing any restrictions that BM might use as evidence and to establish whether all the resolutions of the meeting have been complied with. It was concluded that none of the five works had been released, no instructions had been issued regarding BM's promotion, and the search for publishing contracts was allegedly fruitless. It is, therefore, imperative that the Ministry of Culture issue clear guidelines to all sectors. To be able to stand in this dispute, a radical change in the existing position and practice needs to be made. The loss of publishing rights would bring cultural damage as well as foreign exchange losses. Everything must therefore be done to ensure that the rights remain in the CSR. This means that BM works must be published, operated, distributed, promoted, offered and sold. |