New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-02-08
THE PUBLISHERS MEETING.

| DIVERSITY OF OPINION AMONG AMERICAN PUB
| LISHERS-THE PROPOSED ACT
| Owing to the extreme pressure OF news upon
our columns report OF the meeting of American pub
shers held in the directors OF the Mercantile
Library Tuesday, did not appear in yesterdays
TRIBUNE. The following abstract OF the proceedings
will be found the important points. The whole
| body OF Boston and Philadelphia publishers. as
well as those of NewYork had been invited. No
one appeared from Philadelphia the tradesmen Of that
city having declared themselves opposed to all interna-
Ona copyright and only 10 prominent city houses were
represented the Harpers and nearly oil the schOOboOk
publishers being absent The call had apparently been
premature All the gentlemen In attendance desi-
rous OF an international copyright law but their opn-
ions differed widely 10 its construction.
Mr. W. II. Appleton presented the report OF the Com
mttee of five appointed TO frame bill, which was APP
proved all members OF the Committee with the excep
ton OF Mr.. Seymour OF the firm OF Charles Scrbncr Il
Co. The bill is as follows
AN ACT TO grant copyright 10 foreign authors
BE Il enacted by the Senate and HOUSE Of ReBrcSenTfires
Of the United States Of America IN Congress assembled,
SECTION /. That any author oil manuscript intended
published a book who Is NOT a resident and citi
of the United States obtain copyright for such
manuscript upon the same terms and conditions are
now required OF American author whenever such for
eign author shall into contract with American
publisher, "A citizen of the United States 10 manu-
iactre the book III all it's parts that 10 snail be wholly
the product Of the mechanical industry of the United
States, and the ttlepage thereof shall have been re-
corded la Office Of the Librarian OF Congress within
month OF the date of it's publication In the country
Of winch he Is citizen and shall he published and
posed for sale IN the United states within three months
SIC D. And be "a further enacted. That an American
publisher having, in conformity with the provisions OF
this act, manufactured and issued the work Of foreign
author, he ANAL possess ana hold the same rights Z" pro
aud offer such book for safe In the United Stacs
which he acquires relative 10 American book
under inc act granting ana securing . copyright 10
American authors. Provided. that a. sucn American
publisher shall neglect for tine space OF iArCe months,
keep the book 80 published BY m on sale or oDtainnbo
his publishing house, then IL may he imported
printed the same as might have been done before tho
SIC 3 And be unrfcr enacted. Tint articles In for
eie newspapers. combinations 10 foreign periodicals.
shah not DC entitled to bo copyrighted uni,r 90. nci;
but the foreign author OF successive contributions.
known serial. may obtain FOR such serial nj inc ben
efts of this act whenever. upon the issue Of the
number Of SAID serial, he shall make arrsngo mcbt
future number Of the said SERIAL each within moath.
IN the United states according 10 the provisions OF ts
act iOT the publication OF hooks Of foreign authors.
SIC. T. And BE- IL FURTHER enacted. That nothing In
this act contained shall prevent the importation and
printing OF the work Of foreign author who has not
secured for himself the benefits OF this act the suo
OF this act.
Mr.. seymour's minority report reads substantially
thus: This is not an International Copyright law. II is
an act to protect American publishers by class leg 5la
ton such ia they have rght 10 demand II includes
reciprocity and the British Government would not
recognize IL rs giving any claim for rcciprocity
TO gain for themselves all under this measure
English houses would only have 10 secure Amer an
partners, and with their existing arrangements they
would at control this market The second section
excludes from this market many copyr htcd books in
consequence Of which American scholars who need them
will suffer great wrong The result wopld 10 an In.
crease in price Of all foreign copyrighted works books
OF science others which 1t is absolutely neces.ary
for American scholars 10 possess In short act fna
10 meet many practical difficulties.
Mr. Appleton replied that tho bin seeks to provide a
means Of securing dnet relations between English
HrtlIs end American puyIL'Gora tisun,rue that .hs