New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-01
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT
ENGLISH OPINION or THE HARPER CIR
GUAR.
Ftom az london Tin.es Or Aprl Is.


CULAR.
From, The london Times or AprI 10.
A new effort TO solve one of the standing
difficulties cOpyrght-that o its uterDatonal exten
publishers OF the United States beginning ia stir in
the ratter-at least, those wealthy and therefore
as tho Icproducers OF English books IN the Atlantic
cities Il that enterprsing printers and publish
ers out West taken to IN erSeing the established
firms OF hew-IOrk and Philadelphia. The customary
price for reprint oi popIlaf En6lSn novel IN me
ugs and tins price was Kept up by the establishment
OF a kind OF ring among the rcpnblsbers They took
care not 10 interfere with another in eprntng: and
outsider tried to destroy their trade by offering
reprint lower price, they ernguished the upstart
by undertaking him Till his capital was exhausted.
But now some Chicago men are republshing English
novels at I'd. or Sd. volume. ana they are 80 we'll
backed up that t would b. very expensive to eXtiu-
guis them. Tire new situation demands tactics,
ana tho historic publshers VITA traditions Of fully half
a ceuturys practice, have como forward with n pro-
posal establish international copyright between tho
tinted States and the United Kin .dOm. Briefly stated
their proposal thisthat English author shall have
the same privileges IN America Us citizen author OF
me IIniIed States only he must employ citizen pub
Usher Of the Union 10 reproduce aud disseminate his
Ths naiye u this recommendation 4. charming Tho
Eng sh autaOrt 10 have bis copyright in the States
but not his book shall be manufactured and pub
ton il il better than nothing; ana tho English author
may for augbt We know. lie wiling 10 accept IT, Al
present he gets nothing out such allowance trans
Atlantic publisher give hm for advance sheets and
him subiect to me condition II p.bshlnc throngh =
transatlantic tradesman. He might ind Is
convenient 10 hawk hl5 book about among
small knot OF publishers, who would under
the clrcum stances be able 10 establish ring among
themselves that could not be broken down; bur
tho present system IA not convenient TO the English
author tar as he is concerned hall the recognition
Of right must have some y9lue and though the ple
regard OF American publishers for their own interest
Justly cxoes intnIty OF rdicue. the English Gov
eminent wOuld certainty not feel bound insist upon
open field for English publishers in America. But
whaI chance Is there OF Congress asserting TO the
scheme OF international copyright devised by Mossrs
Harper & BrOthersi Here we must confess faith
fails We well understand that the publisheJs
New-YOrk Philadelphia aud Boston should be stirred
up TO advocate international copyright Ia The form they
PROFOUND. II IL with them question Of soli-def.nce
IHey wish TO protect their Ieprnts from the
rivalry Of the nnpnuclpled adyentuTers Of CHI
chgo. No zeal for inc English author suddenly
anlmates them. They would have left MIN
pick up chance crumbs before they had been
disturbed themselves, and now they do mako proposal
It IL carefully guarded with View TO their own inter
The EDglish author not TO be allowed the rights
OF ordinary pOssessOr OF property he Is be per-
mtcd 10 maintain them only through the agency OF
American publisher But tho motives THAI have IN
duced these Atlantic tradesmen TO take the matter
up hayo influence with the OF the people
the United States II tho ctzens OF the country care
about English novels, and nave realized tho charm OF
obtaining them At "a. or 81. volume. they are not
likely 10 induced to deDar themselves this luxury
keep up The business Of Messrs Harper Mr.AppieOn.
This argument Is not indeed conclusive The gross
usions VI Protection extend 70 cover the Dookse