The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-03-15
Newspaper Copytigh,
Anstiean= leatnalist.

The property rights oi newspapers m the news they publish have no, ye, been fully discussed ROT. indeed. have they heretofore appeared to have been con sidered as having any property ughfs whatever No matter what the cos, oi judgment. energy. and money m pto- curing news. II has been dcelded that any one has the nghi ,o sci1e upon II upon the moment of pubic a,en and make what use oi Il may seem most profitable. and this without any regard to any injury that may be done to the oueind purveyot at the news Thus. Il has been ,om- mon scheme Tor d band ot ne.s pirates to oongtegatc together and seek to establish profitable business on the tfui,s of other men : labor. Newspapers
 so called have been started tunes wuhou, number whose sole purpose was to rob thcir way into hnancial prosperity. Possessed of no means and less honesty. the projectors ot such have started with the idea ei seis,ng the hrst issues oi. say, Il morning paper. always ne, essatly available several hours before the aver age reader Is awake. and ,e huirsedly re WIT ( and print the same matter that may
 
 ot dollars to collect and edit. and then to present II ,o the public as original matter That the news thus p,ratcd was literally stolen created no feeling of shame among the pirates and that most of such ven lures have proved utter nnancial f,iluies IS now no argument for the continuance of such facilities The honest and skill tnl laborer has been robbed of the fuits of his ,oil and that act requires con sideration, even though the thieves have come to the usual pfott,less result of men of theif class
 The proposition now before congress ts desIgntd to remedy this ev,l by an amendment ot the laws of copyright @hio h ~tll gNe to thc onglna! publishers oi news an cNf lusive property in what they have bought and pald tor. ici A perlod oi twenty four hours Fms will if II becomes Law. defeat the pirates we have spoken of |, will render impossible the multiplication ot irresponsible and unttustworthy publlC stons winch have heretofore worked so much lnlury ,o the profession But how abou, the custom ary repetition of news in the evening papers that is now taken hom morning
 
 what difficult to reach thi, bfsne h oi the subject ~.th effectiveness and all things considered ~ill hardly be considered desirable b> such AS arc the mos, ln- tefested. There IS no theft or dishonesty Tn ,his class of news adaptation Custom and convenience have bo,h sanctioned Il, and no one IS heard to complain The whole subject. however, presents SO many dlfi,eulties lha, |, ls extremely doubtful whether congress can paAA d law which shall prove operative Aside from constitutional arguments that may be raised. how are irresponsible pro- DeciorS of plratlt al sheets to be prevented from theiI neiaflous ptacuoes Aciions for damage for infringemen,s of copy right will be both expensive and proil, less. an | II will not, surely be con,ended that congress can import such infringe ments into ihe criminal statutes of Inc United Stafes The states, however migh, take ;he matter m hand and by special enactment place The ,hcf, of news n the same ea,egoy as the larceny of any materal subject. In ,his way the crImInals might be reac he'd and reached effectively h what other ~ay SC can not at present comprehend