The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-23
The Association Meets at Toronto.
The Berne Bill Strongly Attacked
by the Publishers OF Books
AS Measure Threatening Disaster
to tho Printing Business.
Everything Under the Domination
of British Publishers.
Tho Rough Draft OF Bill Which VIII
Remedy the Injustice Done Cana.
dams in the Reprints OF
Foreign Books.

ToRoNTo, Oct. GA general meeting
Of tho Copyright Association OF Canada
was held Thursday last in this city. In
opening the meeting the chairman, j. Ross
Robertson briefly reviewed the situation.
showing that the Bcrne bill, which had
been introduced in the last session OF Par.
Lament, threatened the most disastrous
consequences to the book printing and
publishing interests Of Canada. After It's
adoption every British copyright book
would DO copyrighted In Canada without
requiring manufacture in Canada las IL
required by the present law in order to
secure Canadian copyright. In addition
TO this, tho bill excludes all foreign re-
prints Of English copyright books, thus
throwing the Canadian market on.
tircly into the hands Of British publish
crs and printers. This is where the book
trade and the public are deeply interested,
rs II is well known that the best and most
popular books arc issued in England at a
very high price ut first, and II Is months,
and In some eases years, before they are
issued In cheap editions for the people.
lIagpard's books afford good illustration
OF this. Many thousands OF "Sho" and
"King Solomon's Mines have been sold
in Canada simply because We have been
able to sell tho cheap % cent American edi.
tons. And yet the cheapest English edi-
ton Of these books today is o shillings
sterling.
A rough draft Of the bill containing sug.
gcsIions for the practical operative clauses
Tor now Dominion copyright net, govern
ing the rcprinting in Canada Of imperial
copyright works. the productions Of
british subjects or the subjects Of those
countries that have an International copy
right treaty with Great Britain was then
placed before the meeting aud adopted.
The following Is brief synopsis OF the
clauses OF most interest 10 the trade aud
public
Section l. Refuses copyright In Canada
10 United States authors until such time
| as the United States enter into an inter-
| natl ,nh copyr,eht treaty ~ih a.s~~.
So ton .. Bcci,cs that the condition for
obtaining the Canadian copyright shall be
that the work shall be- printed and pub
lishcd IN Canada within two months after
| first publication elsewhere
Section o RcCitcs that any work intended
| to be- copyrighted la Canada shall before
publication elsewhere or simultaneously
with ils first publication elsewhere be
registered IN the office Of tho minister OF
agriculture by the author or his legal rep.
rc-cnla,vcs, which registration and COM
| plinnce with the provisions OF Section
/ shall Secure the exclusive Canadian copy
right TO tho a,dhor or his legal representa-
| ty,s
Section I. Rcciios that Gh0rtl. W. gnr.
| son or persons entitled 10 copyright ih.uui
| this nci fail 10 take advantage oi H. provis-
| IONS that any person or parsons dOmicilcd
m Canada may print aud publish the work
| IN question. provided registration Of intcu-
| ton Ia do ~ has boon duly made with the
minister Ut agriculture aud the necessary
license obtained. bat In no cnsc II snid
licrusr Ia convoy exclusive rights 10 PRINT
aud publish the work Ia question. This
liconso Ia be- granted 10 nll applicants
agreeing 10 pay the author or his legal rep
r.seutniivs u royalty OF 10 per cent, ON
the retail price Of each copy licensed to bc
sold.
Section 7. Rrcitcs that from aud after
tn passage Ut tlia net the importation into
Canada 0i foreign reprints Of works Of
which the copyright Be- subisling in Great
Britain and which have been registered
under sections three and four Of this act
'pr republication in Canada shall be- and Is
h. aby prohibited. provided the provisions
oil uriun two have been complied With.
section s. R,gitpH that hi, act shall not
ap Iy 10 English copyrights granted prior
~ leo passage of tiis act
90 was decided 10 petition the govern.
m 100 90 take this draft andiucorporato the
CAUSES into tho bill to be- introduced Ia
place %. the liotnc hill aud the president
was dcpulaici % proceed 20 Ottawa a. in
tcryirw the ministers with reference 10 tie
matter s1 a. to prepare The way iur a
/ larger population which will proceed 10
Ottawa later 20.
Should this hill pass the Canadian Par
| lament q h1s tD Do sanctioned by the lm-
lyrinl Parliament NJ once.
|