New-York tribune., 1884-02-25
MORE ABOUT THE OYE-YEAR CLAUSE.

To the EditOr Of Ths rf6UHe.
SIR: Though Mr.. Stedman's admirable ar
gument IL his letter in todays TRIBUNE against the re-
tenon Of the oney ar clause in Dorsheimers copy
right bill should be sufficient TO cause Its elimination from
the measure still think he has neglected to point out
what appears to me an important objection
The English International law empowers the British
Government grant TO the authors Of foreign countries
only the protection which those countries respectively
confer the authors OF Great Britain Consequently II
the Objectionable is retained in the bill now before
Congress and becomes law 1t viii be necessary for
authors to have their works reprinted in Great
Britain within year after first publication here, II
theyt desire to British copyright II
is true, writers OF established reputation would
have no difficulty in complying with the
legal demand except perhaps in the case OF works In ad
vance or the time as mentioned by Mr.. Stedman and
which agree with him I'm thinking, should be fully pro
tected It The younger writer's in the field Of letters
that woud be the sufferers. often occurs that an
author publishes three works before being thor
oughy appreciated. lucky hi s then made and nme-
Gstey q value is given to previous works which have
hitherto been bering the publishers shelves II the
year clause is retained the young author would be
unable % obtain English copyright for his or her ear
lest productions for which value Is thus created for #
Is hardly likely that they would have been reprinted in
England within the prescribed period could name sew
eral American writers OF emnence OF the present day
who would have lost al claim 70 foreign copyright on
their earlier works had such law that now proposed
with the oneyear Limitation included in it been in force
ar the time OF their entering the field Of literature
No international law win be acceptable that IS not
equally Just TO American and foreign authors Still
would suggest that America has more 10 gain than 70
lose by the omission Of the oueyear limitation, a. with
population Increasing not only in number but n enght-
enuen her tOers with the pen increasing
u a ratio which bids fair to place them IN point Of num-
bers in advance OF those OF other countries.
2 qfo r.of ouIy for
fishers that the demand Of the latter for the compulsory
acre books IN this country In order 70 secure
copyright has been abandoned There many scien-
tifc and expensivey Illustrated works which it Ia more
profitable 70 import in limited editions than 10 reprint
while perceive that In some cases IT may he ally
FOR an English or an American publisher 70 make
JOINT arrangements win an author ana Ma puDShcT q"
import Limited e'iioI ana tIy us success "eIoe u
curing the risk Of entirely reproducing the work It
be remembered that by the proposed law Copyright
is 10 De gwen 10 tne aulhof ana hoi 10 tue
that here well in England oil night NJ pubncauOn
VIII emanate directly rom the auihor WorAs OF "lch
large editions are demanded VIII ID most cases ue pIC
duced in the countries which they are sold ImPorta-
ton manufacture is evidently ject FOR tsr legs
laton only and may a. has already been remarked III
your columns, Ice left tn il.
was sumed IN Eng aud that copyright could be OBJ
tanned by the simultaneous publication there and in
were much -ratined thereby, and know money paid
10 American authors fOr such presumed rght III was.
however soon legal decided that British copyright OF
an American work could be secured unless at the time OF
first publication IL author was actually present on british
soil and subject British law, and that 10 retain such
copvrgh the American author must assi N the same 20
British subject before quitting the BRUSH llonlons
Th. was shortly after tbs publication OF Iucle Toms
Cabin and, II mistake not. the hrst copyright granted
an American after the decision one awarded
to Mrs. Harriet Bcecher stowe which she AZ
signed Messrs. Sampson Low. son Coz pre- 0us 10
Leaving England II was Jhat visit 10 Europe which
rise 10 her sunny Memories o. Foreign Lands Il Oc-
cured 10 me aferwdri that the presence OF an Auef
can writer In canada o. the time OF the first publication
of his work IN England would be equally effective pro-
vlded such publication took place before Issue lh tie
United states / I-uggested this 10 Mr. Charles Wexford
as lar back a. l-Js, and since then several American
authors have obtained British copyrights Dy paying ny
ing visit o Canada. American authors have thus f0r
time had an advantage their Eagsh brethren o. the
craft who at present obtain copyright IN America
But this advantage might be readily cancelled by an Eng
sb act of Parliament An equitable International Copy
rtrhf law vi thus not only them the fruits OF LABOR
Ia other cOunrles but viii add 10 the dignity OF author
ship in this MAAhlNIlLLD ADDEf'
Ae1c- York, Fe0. 16, 1884.