New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-05
INTERIM TTONAL COPYRIGHT
PROSPECTS OF RELIEF no AUTHORS.

LITERATURE HAS HURT PUBLISHERS IN THIS
CONTINENTAL THE HAMPERS AND PUTNAMs
SAY.
The subject of international copyright is of lively
interest to American authors and publishers now
owing to the extensive republication Of foreign
books in a cheap form. Almost every kind of for
eign work that will command a sale of a few hum
dred copies, is republished in the cheap cent
library form. This has made serious inroads upon
the profits of the publishers and authors as well
1t is claimed by those interested in American tera
ture that these cheap publications besides robbing
authors of the fruits of their labors seriously retard
the growth of literal and science in this country
j. W. Harper. jr., of Harper Il Brothers in answer
to inquiries upon this subject. recently said:
Before these cheap publications were placed
upon the market it was the rule among the pub
fishers voluni arly to pay to foreign authors lib
eral percentage of the profits made on the republi
cation OF their works. The understanding among
the publishers known as the courtesy of the trade
a certain extent protected both authors and pub
fishers and also protected the public from unreas
enable prices works of foreign authors sold
at prices below those asked for the class of
American works The trade courtesy however, has
been broken up by these cheap pamphlet publica-
tions. We have been obliged to issue these in the
Franklin Square Library in self-defence We still
voluntarily pay foreign authors the same percen-
tage Of receipts before. but when books sell at
~ ana ~ cents eacn there is not much 10 pay the
authors with"
" Has this form of publication injured the sale of
the works of American authorsr
"Actual experience shows that the sale Of Ameri-
books has been greatly injured Copyrighted
works, Of course, cannot well be published in this
form. The prohts arc small that American,
author afford to compete IN this way with the
works of the foreign authors which are reproduced
and sold at about the mere cost Of manufacture.
Thus over 100000 copies of Disraelfs Endymion
were sold in the Franklin Square Library alone. 1t
is book that american readers could not be
pected to he greatly interested in, yet copies
sold here than in England. Readers have time
to peruse only so many books, and they spend only
a certain amount of money on books. In that time
and money are bestowed on these cheap repubiica-
tions of tore On books of course American authors
sosr by IT, IL tennis 70 battle AN the OF our
is the announcement of authors. 1t is q blow at
American literary production, by filling markets
with works produced at price with which the
American author cannot compete. In this way the
growth of literature and science in this country is
retarded instead of being promoted, and American
authors are driven to other professions to make
livelihood"
80, Would an international copyright law remedy
" 1t would protect American authors and give
them an equal chance by maintaining fair price
for literary productions The immediate seizure and
republication of every English book without pay
ment of copyright and in the cheapest possible FORM
authoi. and destroy the encouragement to the
American author, which is the declared object of
Would not such "a law increase the price of
booksp
AS compared with the cost of these pamphlet
produo tions, it would, of course. Under the trade
courtesy the equivalent of q copyright has been
generally paid to the author, and the price of the
book has been determined accordingly; therefore
the increase would not he sensibly felt. 1t would,
however, stimulate terary activity. and the
carrying out the theory of our copyright laws by
securing TO authors. for limited time. some profit
upon their works. 1t would give regular aud legal
public, the authors and The publishers were con-
tent. j do not think the American sense of fairness
and honesty Will long sustain the practice now
being followed by some publishers. of appropriate
ing to their the work OF the brain and the
time and study Of another man without any recon-
tional copyright law 7"
+" think the prospects very good. memo
rial TO the Department of State from American
authors and publishers embracing suggestions for a
mtted in President Hayes's Administration. Mr.
Evarts took the subject up with much interest and
accomplished more than any of his predecessors.
Through Minister Lowell the subject was brought
20 the attention of the English Government aud
English authors. The suggestions were generality
approved of and ground of agreement was
reached when President Garfield Administration
came into Office. Mr. Blaine took the matter under
favorable consideration, and committee of
authors and publishers made an appointment TO lay
their views before him in support of the proposed
treaty The meeting was postponed owing TO ne
political excitement at that thine, and later the
attack upon the President again postponed consid-
Mr. West, who will come to this country IN the
autumn, has been empowered by tue British Gov
a
the subject. IT is probable by that time that the
President will be sufficiently recovered TO give the
matter his attention. and from his culture and lib
erai views and the concurrence of opinion upon the
subject, together with the friendly disposition of
both governments, think may hope for an early
and favorable conclusion to the negotiations"
Are the American authors and publishers united
upon the subject r.
There is some slight difference of opinion upon
the proposed details of the treaty, but nothing
serious II is proposed for instance that the author
who publishes work in country shall not he
entitled to copyright in the other unless the work
Is also published therein by citizen thereof stimuli
taneously OF within specified time from ITS origi-
nal publication. Ii was originally proposed that
tins time be three months, order tina the readers
waiting for an important book published in the
other. On the other hand il urged that a period
or three months Is too short time. as 1T would
force authors IN one country, in order to obtain q
copyr ght in the other. into accepting whatever
terms publishers might offer. This question how
ever can be easily settled by making the time six
months or a year. Another point made by some
Philadelphia publishers is that all books copyrighted
IN TINS country shall be wholly manufactured here
The general opinion is not to prohibit the importa-
ton of stereotyped plates. III this rs done IL will
increase the cost oI books and make the republica
!on OF expensive works full of plates Improbable
II not impossible in this country. The points of
difference are few and think be satisfactorily
arranged"
George Haven Putnam, of the firm of G.. p. Put
MANS Sons. asked if the recent cheap style of
republishing foreign works was interfering with
the production of American books.
ies, was the prompt reply. il is having a
very serious effect. IL is driving American authors
from the market, and is also preventing the reput
able publishers from issuing in library form good
foreign works. We have turned away many
American authors in the last few months whose
WORKS IN ordinary times would have been success
ini. we cannot compete, however, with these 10
publisher of the Seaside Library, tor instance He
requires no literary ability, lis at expense for a
nothing to authors He merely republishes huok
Wmch some other house has been ut he expense of