The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1858-01-25


INTERNATIONAL COPY RIGHT.
Mr.. Morris Of Pennsylvania has intro
dueed into the House of Representa-
tives an international Copy Right Bill,
giving to foreign authors, who shall pub
lish their books in this country within
one month after their appearance in their
own country, all the privileges Of our
copy right law. This is subject that
has been under discussion for many
years, without having made much pro.
gress in the popular mind. Its chief ad-
vocates are the booksellers who by the
exclusive monopolies which the copy
right confers, fill their own pockets by
exorbitant taxes upon the reading pub
lie. There IS no greater bar to the dis
semination of knowledge than the opera
tons of our copy right law. An impor-
tant and interesting work protected by
copy right is placed almost beyond the
reach Of common readers by the exor-
bitant prices charged for it by the fortu-
nate monoPolists, the publishers. A
popular work, like DR.. Kans's, is an am
pie fortune to bookseller. Our copy
right law as applied to our own works,
needs amending for the benefi! Of our
own citizens, against the .exaetions Of
native publishers, instead Of comforting
its exclusive privileges with all its ac-
cumulated abuses upon foreign writers
and foreign publishers. Our patent and
copy right laws are an enormous burthen
upon the country, and need radical re-
vision. There are facilities in the opera
tons oil the book trade already existing
by which foreign author can gain fair
and reasonable control Of the market in
this country for the sale Of his works.
Books of any worth are now all stereo-
typed in Europe and here. While print
ing his work at home, the foreign author
can, at very slight additional expense
have extra stereotype plates made from
the type set for his work there. These
extra plates-sent to this country and
sold to an American publisher, give that
publisher monopoly of the American
market at reasonable and fair prices; be
cause no other publisher can set the type
anew and print the book and compete
with the holder Of the foreign Plates
And the purchaser Of the plates from
the foreign author can anticipate oil
others and secure the first sales il
American markets which are always the
largest and best. For these advantages
an American publisher will pay the au
thor large sum. Similar arrangement
are made for engravings, Autographs ant
other productions Of artists. These pc
culiar features in the business which
foreign authors and publishers are nov
availing themselves-glve them liberal
compensation for their productions, ant
many English authors are deriving mor'
revenue from the publication Of thei
works here, under the protection which
the nature of the trade gives them-thar
they have realized from the sale Of theil
works at home. Let the trade alon,
and it will do justice to all parties ant
regulate itself
This movement, under the pretenc,
of doing justice to foreign writers, is I
scheme Of the large publishers in thi
country to secure monopoly of all for
eign books, under which they will Ia
the reading public at discretion. 1t
urged on the score Of justice, equalit,
and reciprocity. If it were an act o
equity to foreign writer's. there would
be no equality nor reciprocity in it be
tween our own country and those wit
whom the arrangements would be made
We give hundred readers of ever.
valuable English book for every one
has at home, even; and We buy thou
sands Of copies Of English books for ev
cry copy of an American book sold i
England. The difference is still NOR
disproportionate with French and Ger
man works; and worse still with Span
ish and Italian works. And in the in
crease Of the population Of our country
the progress of education here and tn
extension of the facilities of dissemina
ting books, this inequality Of benefit
will become greater, and its injus.ic
will be insupportable. 1t is o book Sc
ler's plot, and not for the benefit of thos
who labor by their brains, that has in
.roduced this bill; and the country. "
hope, will crush it as it has all other n
tempts at monopoly.