Considers the ratio in Walter v Lane (HL), a claim to copyright in verbatim reports of public speeches, and the extent to which it remains good law, in light of legislative developments and ECJ case law. Argues that the case did not address the issue of originality, but merely authorship within the meaning of the Copyright Act 1842, and remains authoritative on the issue of what was a literary work, as a crucial step before assessing originality.