The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-20
ANGLO-AMERICAN COPYRIGHT.
Memorial OF British Authors on Copy.
right In the United states.

Memorial OF British Authors on Copy.
right In the United states.
The following memorial OF British authors on the
subject Of copyright in the United States of America
was sent to the Right Hon. Earl Granville on Friday,
April 49, by Mr.. William Gilbert, the honorable Sec.
retary:-
Looking forward with satisfaction to the prospect
Of harmonious relations being happily established
between the United States and the United Kingdom,
we, the undersigned, hope for reconsideration Of
the policy In virtue OF which authors, as authors,
enjoy. no rights which American citizens are
bound to respect. Letters from influential
publisher--which have recently appeared here,
Joined with the approval Of them expressed in the
Americans for the conclusion Of q Copyright Con-
vention between their country and ours. We
this country have hitherto been the most for r.
midable obstacles to the negotiation OF Copyright
81 on9 we % Rnn @ the
quite independent Of the just claims OF British au-
thors, and that the latter may be fully admitted
would be grave error If the settlement OF this
matter were retarded or rendered impossible, in
consequence OF two classes Of claims which in es-
being regarded by. negotiators representing
this country Identical and
as producing the ideas, and the publisher, as
producing the material vehicle by which the Ideas
the British author to be paid by them for his brain
work. The claim Of the British book manufacturer
to monopoly of their book market they do not ad-
NIT To give the British author copyright Is simply
to agree that the American publisher shall pay
hnm for work DONE TO give the British
publisher a copyright is to open the Ameri-
can market to him on terms which prevent
the American publisher from competing With
out dwelling OH the argument of the Americans
that such an arrangement would not be free trade
but the negauon Of free trade, and merely noticing
their further argument that while their protective
free competition with the British book manulac.
turer would be fatal to the American book manu-
reasons for refusing to permit the British pub
Usher to share In the copyright which they
are willing to grant to the British author.
responding to the cordial Feeling recently
expressed by Americans on the subject and duly
approaching the force Of their reasons for making
the above distinction, future negotiations shond
be conducted with view to secure q copyright on
the conditions they specify. Without making 1t the
treatment, we mention the fact that American
authors may, 4 they please, secure all the adyan-
are enjoyed by native authors.
Rev. Edward Henry Bickersteth, Sir John Lub-
9 9ScK Bart H,b M p Thomas mas H 4, Huxley
ner, J; B. Leicester Warren, Rev. Harry Jones' is
Nsv Dan Cooper 4pdfsw Eds yosep Ii Dalton
Hooker, NJ D., +; X, s., Harriet Martlneau John
T Percy M p p, FR S George scharf T. s. A.;
Robert Buchanan, Henry Labouchere, Augustus
W. Franks, Vice President Society Of Antigua.
Herbert spencer, a. Il. Lewis, John Stuart
Mill Helen Taylor J. A. Froude, 4. Carlyle, John
Ruskin, John Morley, w. F. Rae, @. Tabor, Eliza
Tabor, William Black, Edward Dioey, James Card,
william Gilbert, Sheldon Amos, Edwin Pears, James
paget Archibald Forbes, J. o. Parkinson, W. T.
McCullagh Torrens, NJ. p; Charles Darwin, Eras-
earthly, John Tyndall y. r. T.
reply to the above memorial has been received
as follows:-
F0RsIGN OFFICE, May q 1872.
SIR am directed by Earl Granville to acknowl-
ecge the receipt OF your letter OF the 10th ult
closing memorial OF British authors on the subject
OF Copyright IN the United States and His Lordship
desires me TO state to you than the subject will
ccve the careful attention of. Her Majesty's gov.
eminent. am yours, &C., ENPfELD.
WILLIAM GILBERT Esn