New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-29
PROJECTING THE COPYRIGHr Bill.

SUGGESTIONS FROM THE PrRLTeH~Rs EAGCE FOR
AZ INTERNATIONAL CorYnIGHr law.
Tho authors and the publishers OF the country arc
wisely uniting their Efforts ard making such
necessary both sides secure the mutual ben
-ht Of an International copyright law. The ,cton
which has been taken and The rs for arc OK
planned IN letter which George Haven Putnam srcre-
tary OF the American Publishers Copyright League,
sent to The TRIBUNE yesterday.
Last month Senator chaos Introduced a bin IN the
senate providing for International COY light which
referred 90 the Committee P4trLts. Tho Authors
League have agreed TO certain amendments TO this bin
which we're also approved By tho Copyright Associa on
OF Boston and which senator Chace now has under
consideration. Many publishers and authors would
have been pleased with a measure providing a copy.
right at once absolutely free OF RESTRICTIONS but thi,
was recognized as mpractcsble and It was apparent
that there must be corcerted action In
order TO secure any legislation at all.
senator Chacs's BIZ the lmmed ate requirements
OF be case, and when the pr0c pie the law IL
recognized. there will be no great difficulty it Is
thought in p-rfHcang it, form.
one Of the proposed amendments to the bill forbids
the Importation Of foreign copies OF American COPY
right works. except under the written authorization Of
the owner Of the copyright and provision Is to re-
place similar one fJrbiolng the importation OF any
copies OF foreign wc-k which mas secured American
copyright
The BILL IN H. present rr provides that the title or
description OF a reprint OF foreign work which IA
Amer copy right shall deposited with The
Librarian VI Congress not later than the day Of It's
publication In The country of It's origin and that two
oUpcs OF tie book shall be deposited within three
moaths after the recording OF the copyright Ducing
The intervening time the Importation OF the book Is
hrDcdcn Al this H. l. proposed U END, by rec uIr-
Ing the publication VI the reprint t. be- siuu ur,i
tn th.L Of the book the country origin The
PIe-eni :rm 81 the bill might altoge her deprive
the American readers Of book for three ttrng
tie preparation of tho reprint, while permit impor-
tat.Cn dnriug thl, time might enable foreign plO-
.l~i~' 10 gam entie control OF the market this
country.
EYED IN the form which suits both authors and
publishers the btu Is likely however 70 mect with
,trOng opposition The most In pOrtsnt objection to
The law l. the fear the part OF readers and buyers
hat Il will leave the control OF the American martet
With English publishers and high prices Tho
gcrness OF American publishers fur the meas "a
shows. however, that they have fear Of fore On
petition They also believe that the slight adv ance
prices Of the cheapest issues OF foreign hcon
would he more than Offset by lower prices IN works Of
a higher class Of literature. There IS also fear on
he par ~ Typographical unions that he law may
ransfrr 70 England par OF the TYPE setting now
done IN this country This IA. been especial thorn
y be side Of Phiade pha printers VIII those OF new
ork and Boston generally believe that the risk has been
veretlruated aud thai the uli Will in reality DO
the reverse of that which 3 feared