Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-28
En1crnnllennI CopyrIghI.

international Copyright.
A mans right Of property in the book he pro-
duces is as real, and as much entitled to protec
ZION. as it would be if it were right Of property
in a house, a machine or a ship. This is adj
mittcd TO a certain extent, by the enactment Of
copyright laws But it is not fully admitted,
aud. under certain circumstances, it is wholly
denied. Or. Livingstone goes to Africa, boldly
travels into the interior and explores regions Of
which the civilized world has no knowledge.
He encounters danger, submits to priyation, and
makes important discoveries Finally, he re-
turus 10 Europe and writes out full narrative
of bis adventures and explorations. Who will
deny thar the book is his property? Well, En-
clish law, recognizing his right OF properly in
the book, give this right protection, not perma-
nenty, but for limited number Of years, Bat,
any American publisher can lay hands on it,
and publ sh and sell it, without auy regard
whatever to the right or claim OF the author.
Ii he had Invent d a new bootack or a new APP
ple-paring machine, orr laws would protect his
right of property in the invention; but anybody
can print and sell his book, without his permits
sion, because we have failed to enact laws for
the protection of such property.
What our publishers can do with the property
of English authors, English publishers can do
with that OF American authors. They can seize,
pint, aud sell for their own profit, any Ameri-
can book, as soon as it appears in print on this
side of the Atlantic, and defy every attempt of
the defrauded author TO yet redress Should
Mr.. Motley carry TO England carriage, gun,
or a bushel OF wheat, his right of property in
the article would be protcced but there is no
protection of his right to that far more impor-
tant article of property, his History of the
Dutch Republic which cost him years of labor,
and much money spent in exploring European
libraries aud buying old manuscripts and books.
This treatment Of an undeniable right of prop
erty, is grossly unjust, and should not be tocr-
ated by the public opinion Of either country.
But the fault is chiefly on our side; for the En-
glish have for a long time been ready to cstab-
lish an International copyright law In TACT,
English legislation as it now stands provides for
putting such q law in operation, as soon as con-
gress shall provide corresponding protection for
English authors Such action of congress is all
that is now wanted 10 secure the required pro-
lection; aud We should rejoice TO know that this
will not be long delayed. AT present authors
are robbed unscrGpulously, and none but I'M
scrupulous publishers are benefited.
The stock argument used to perpetuate thit
wrong, is that books are made cheaper by allow
ING our publishers 10 steal the properly of En-
glish authors; but this argument is utterly base
ess. The rule is that English books printed in
this country are sold as high as they would bt
if publishers were required 10 pay for the copy
right. There is no appreciable difference be
tween the price oil American books on whicl
. copyright is paid and that of English books OF
which it is not paid. The only difference is tina
the publishers get a larger profit on the Englisl
books, by putting in their own pockets what
should be paid TO the authors. There is no pc
cuniary benefit 10 the bookbuyers. 1t is not
true that the stealing enables them to get the
books at cheaper rate; but it is true that
nearly all the trash published in England is re-
produced here by our publishers, simply be-
cause it can be taken without payment of copy
right. An international copyright law would
give US better books without change of price
for it would greatly lessen the republication OF
English trash, and, at the same time, stimulate
our best writers 10 greater production OF yalu'
able American books. While our publishers
can appropriate English books without paying
for them, they are not so much inclined to dea
with American writers as they would be under
other circumstances. While they can keep their
machinery fully occupied on works tor which
they pay nothing they will not be as ready rs
they should be to publish American books for
which they must pay.
Heretofore, the most strenuous opposition 10
an international copyright law has come from
publishers in Philadelphia; but there Me Others
in the country, who never fail to act with them
either openly or secretly. Let such law be
mentioned in congress, and Philadelphia pub
fishers will Immediately print thousands OF
petitions against it, and send them all over the
country for signatures. Henry c. Carey will
contrive to have his pamphlet against such a
law circulated among congressman; and agents
will be sent from that city to lobby against it
Mr., Carey opposition to such law is pure self.
ishness tempered little with his character
istic eaotism. lie has made money by repub-
fishing English medical books without paying
copyright; and it was his personal interest in
this business which led him to write the pam
phlet in question. How he can preserve self
respect while advocating the protective policy,
and at the same time opposing an International
copyright law, Is not easily understood. But
this Philadelphia opposition weakens every year,
needed law will be secured.