New-York daily tribune., 1851-07-15
International Copyright.
law

After the recent judicial decision deliv-
cred by Lord Campbell, which established
the power of foreigners to take out copy
rights in England, it was hoped that no far
ther opposition would there be made to
principle so manifestly just. But such it
seems is not to be the case. Mr. BOhn, a
London publisher, of great energy and no
scruples, who has been notoriously in the
habit of pirating the works of Mr.. Irving
and other American authors, to whom
Messrs Murray and Bentley had paid liberal
sums for the same works. becoming liable to
heavy damages under Lord Campbell's de-
cision, will not resign himself either to
pay the damages or quit trade which
he has found profitable. He has, there
fore, determined, at whatever cost, to ap-
peal to the House of Lords, in the hope
that they will reverse the decision.-
Prepatory to these legal proceedings, he got
up public meeting in London the other
day for the purpose of expressing public
sentiment on his side of the case At this
meeting some two hundred persons were
present.
Mr. Bohn was assisted in his plan by no
less person than Sir f.. BuLwEa l.yrToN,
who attended and made a speech in the pi-
ratical interest. His argument was that
there was no probability that the Americans
would enact copyright law for the benefit
of English authors. Several years ago he
had himself introduced in Parliament a bill
which was passed, providing for reciprocity
in that matter with any nation which should
enact such law, bat they had not taken
advantage of it. There was no reason to
suppose that they would do it now, should
the decision of Lord Campbell be con-
frmed There was then no wise course
but TO continue the present state of
things and let the Americans suffer from
it (already most Of the books they read
were British, and native authors were
miserably paid,) till they were compelled to
admit British authors to take out copyrights.
When they did that, reciprocity would at
once be realized. As for any obligation of
Justice to individual writers it could not be
considered in matter belonging TO interna
tional legislation. This was the drift of his
remarks.
To this speech Mr. ERNEST JONES, well
known as Chartist, replied in most
thorough and conclusive manner, as we are
assured by gentleman emmently qualified
to Judge. who was present. Mr. Jones is a
rather small man, in appearance not at all
imposing, and his name was not calculated
to impress favorably those who had pre-
viously heard of him. But he had not SpO-
ken long before he exhibited such mastery
of the subject, such familiarity with the
facts, and such ability in using them
that he carried the audience with
hRn. Bulwer's arguments he completely
demolished, showing it was for England to
take the position Of right and justice, no
matter what might be done elsewhere. 1t
could not be taken as a valid apology ior
piracy that other nations indulged in it nor
was it expedient 10 subject British authors
TO an unequal competition at home. because
they enloyed unequal advantages abroad.
The proposition now virtually TO abolish the
protection OF native authors and dreduce Eng
land 10 the same condition of dependence on
foreign book-makers as they had been told
already characterized the United States and
Belgium, where II was said, that the great
mass OF literature consisted of reprints,
pirated Of course, he showed up with force
and effect
MIR. Jones's speech was longer, ADLER,
more convincing and more influential even
with that packed audience, than Sir f. Bul-
wer Lytton's And yet that of the Barenet
is reported at length in The Tunes and that
of the Chartist barely alluded TO- This is
the journal which boasts that il holds correct
and complete reporting TO be matter OF re-
hgious duty, in which il is infnitely superior
10 all the rest of the world, New York pa
pers especially
We are happy to believe that MIR. Bodn
will not be successful in the House OF
Lords, and that the decision of Lord Camp
bell will be sustained, delivered as it was