Daily American telegraph., 1852-08-19
International Copyright Law.


A recent despatch from Washington to the New
York Times says:
81 learn from good authority that the British
Minister has proposed, under instructions from
his government, to negotiate an international
copyright similar to that recently concluded be-
tween England and France. He desires to secure
for British authors the privilege of copyrighting
their books, and thus controlling their publication
and sale in the United States President Fill
more has signifed his willingness to enter upon
such negotiation, and the subject is now under
consideration"
We have ever beheld with regret the reluctance
of the United States government to enter into an
equitable arrangement on this important SUBJ
ject-important to the European author, and
doubly so to the American.
For many years our legislators have been impor-
tuned in vain, by the authors Of our country, to
enact such laws as would secure foreign writer's
the profits Of their labors in the United States.
The idea had become prevalent that our country
would derive benefit from the brigandlike facility
she possessed of appropriatng to her own use
the illusions of the European press; and the
gain being on our side, the morality Of the ques-
ton never appeared to present a restraining
motive.
That this course is as defective in policy as it
is unsound in morals may, we think, be easily
demonstrated.
Mr.. Bluff and Mr.. snivcl are clever writer's.
Their books are universally read in England, and
produce powerful influence among the people.
They also produce to these authors an adequate
recompense, being published in an accurate and
beautiful manner at two or three dollars vol
ume. But as soon as they are published in Eng
land, American publishers catch them up, and
reproduce them here at twenty-five cents vol
ume This is cheap and Of course the advan-
tage seems to be all ours. But is it sol We
shall see.
An American writer, Mr.. J. Fitzroy Simpkins,
has written an excellent book, full Of sprightly
humor and genuine American sentiment. He
wishes to have it published, and calls on Mr..
Duodecimo, the publisher. That gentleman
thinks very well of the book--has no doubt Of its
high merits and patriotic sentiments; but merit
and patriotism are not at premium. He sells
Messrs. Bluff and Snivels books at % cents per
volume, and Mr. Simpkinss will bring no more.
How then can he afford to pay Mr.. simpkins any
thing for his? He cannot His estimates are
neatly made, and do not take into the account
any compensation TO the author. His readers do
not care enough for American books to pay extra
for them! For him to do so would not be PAY
ing business. He declines; and Mr.. Simpkins
takes his manuscript home, or gives il to some
publisher of cheap literature, as the only mean,
by which he can get II before the public He
writes for fame as well as for money; and hoping
to obtain the former, he thinks he but abate,
half his price in giving his labor for the fam,
alone, howbeit he cannot live on fame.
The foreign and American author are both sac
ri6ced by this interruptions usage. But, SOM
one will say, the American people are benefited
in obtaining their books at the cost Of ink anC
paper, or but little more. We do not believe
word Of this, and think we can disprove the asser
ton.
In the first place, an Indifferent book requires
rs much time for Its perusal as good one. Were
authors and publishers protected in their Jus.
rights, discrimination would be exercised in the
presentation Of works that would save the reader
q vast amount Of labor in perusng triainr or
pernicious books. The copyright Of good book
would be cheaper at five or ten thousand dollars
than frothy affair at ten dollars. Meritorious
authors, and books profitable to the reader, would
at once secure public favor, and the young and
ignorant would be protected from the necessity Of
traversing hundreds Of pages of miserable yer
biage to gather few thoughts in compensation fol
their labors. In the wholesale, hurry -scurrJ
style Of bringing before the American public re.
prints Of everything novel in the European book.
markets, religion, republication, and morals are