The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-17
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAL.
THURSDAY. Is; JANUARY II, 1890
A WORD FOR THE AUTHORS.

A WORD FOR THE AUTHORS.
The authors Of this country have for
many years been struggling to secure tho
passage Of an international copyright law
in order to protect themselves against the
food Of cheap editions Of English works
that, being piratcd by the publishers,
costs them little or nothing OF money.
For ono reason or another. pertinent to |
the various interests represented, these !
efforts have so iar been barren OF results,
and the men who make our literature |
have had to plod on AMI DC content with
nero pit,ance ui rccomponsc, most of
them having recourse to other occupations
> te>1nakc living. This. besides that 1t
has worked great outrage upon our
writers, preventing them from the leisure
so essential 10 study and thought, has been
detrimental 10 the general interests OF the
country by rctarding tho growth Of
healthy National literature Con-
rnss should be patriotic enough TO
put stop to this by at once
coming TO their relief. The author Ia 90
much entitled 10 protcctionas the inventor
OF machinco an appliance. Ills worksarc
the creature Of his brain, especially when
they arc, Ike the poem, novel or romance,
the creature Of his Imagination. The bill
now before tho Senate aud the House Is
treasure that would have this effect II
provides, a. We learn from circular that
has just reached us that foreign authors,
artists. etc, may obtain copyright in this
country upon certain conditions and with
certain limitations, towit a. Tho title
OF the book or description OF the work to
b. copyrighted must b, tlci in the Office
OF the Librarian OF Congress before publ.
cation in this country or elsewhere, o.
Not later than the day Of publication IN
the United States or elsewhere two copies
OF tho wora shall be deposited IN the
library Of Congress o. No copyright Is
given TO the foreign author unlcs' his
book Is printed rom type 80. In this
country. g., Oi Jookg ~ copyrighted,
the proposed law allows the importation Il
copies Of the foreign edition ioI the use Of
the importer only, under certain psiric
tons by lhcs, limitations foreign auth
on would be secured at L.cir option with.
ont any disturbance Of the uadc or Of the
existing investments Of our publishers aud
printers. "All literature GrI Published
abroad before this bill gocs into effect will
still remain unprotected by copyright In
uhis country; and I'll works published
abroad before they are issued In this
country, after this hin shall have become
law, win remain liable to reprint here
without the payment Of any remuneration
90 the author. The operation Of the bill
u, therefore, confined 20 books first pub.
lishcd after the law goes In force. and 20
those which shall be- issued In this county
simultaneously with. or before their
publication abroad, aud which shall
BE- printed here" This sooms 10 be fair
enough for Il Is Ia be presumed that every
English writer or publisher would protect
himself In tins country beioro issuing bis
book In Grca, Britain or 10 dependencies
OF colonies. The effect Of this would bc
TO proven, piracics and force the publisher
to look 10 American authors and pay them
well for their work, i,woull also secure IN,
English authors In their rights and yet
would no, prevent cheap aud popu.
lar editions, Of which nov more than ever
there are man, Of even valuable scicnuh,
and works Of history In England, "a In all
tho Continental nations AZ things nov
are "Ihc majority Of American writers ar,
forced to accept boggarly pitianccs Tor thcil
labors because OF competition With work.
written abroad which are appropriated b,
publishers IN this country without ~
enumeration TO thc writer's We are speak
ing within bounds In asserting tha
The average Ampricn abook brings les
than 500 TO iis author Iongiri
low, for instance. In half cen
fury Of continuous labor ~ an aulho
Of great abilities and indispensable oppor
tuniiics did not, all told, realize sos, 90
from his works, less than $500 per an
mum. And yet they were sold in Englan,