Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-09-17
ABOUT COPYRIGHTS.
A Glance at the Limitations of Benefits
to Authors.
Benefits
From the Scientific American.

FROM tne oC1enIlnC American.
The duration Of copyrights in various
countries, according to a resume given
some months ago by a writer in the
Westminster Review, is as follows: In
Greece the period during which an au-
thor can hold copyright is restricted
to fifteen years, and the writer indicates
his estimate of the limitation in bust
| ness point of view by saying that the
modern Greeks thus justify their repu-
tation as the most astute of business
men. The Swiss grant copyright during
the life of the author or mis- heirs dur
ing thirty years from the date of publ
cation OF his work. His heirs
can have copyright in bis
posthumous work for thirty years
from the date of his death if they
publish the works within ten years of
his decease. In the United States copy
right is accorded to authors during
twenty-eight years from the time when
| the title is recorded, and for fourteen
| years more if the author, or certain
representatives Of the author, be living,
and if the title of the work in question
! be recorded anew within six months
before the expiration of the twenty
eight years-the period during which
the copyright was already secured. In
japan the ordinary copyright is accord
ed for thirty years, but fifteen years
may be added to that period in favor of
works of great utility. According to
English law, authors enjoy copyright
for term of forty-two years from the
| date of publication of the work, Or
during the life of the author, and
seven years from the date of his
death, whichever may be the longer.
In Brazil the author enjoys copyright
for life, and it is extended for ten years
after his death. In Venezuela the copy
right endures for the life of the author,
and fourteen years after his death. In
Holland and Belgium the copyright
lasts during the life of the author, and
during twenty years after his death. In
Germany, ia-Hungary and Portu-
gal copyright endures during the life of
the author and during thirty years after
his death. The duration of copyright
in Italy is regulated in peculiar man
ner. 1t endures for the life of the au-
thor and forty years after his death, or
for eighty years after the publication of
the work, the term of years being divld
ed into two periods of forty years each.
IF the author dies within the first peri
cd of forty years the remainder of the
term is enjoyed by his heirs and assigns.
The second period of forty years begins
at the death of the author, if he has
died after the first period of forty, years
has elapsed; Or, if he has died before
then, at the end of the first period of
forty years. During the second period
any one is at liberty to republish the
work on payment to the owner of the
copyright of royalty of per cent. on
the price, which must be marked on the
the book. France, Norway, Sweden
and Denmark accord copyright dur
ing the life of the author and during
fifty years after his death. Russia not
OILY gives copyright for life and during
fifty years after, but also for ten addi-
tional years if an edition of the work
is published within five years from the
end of the first copyright term. The
law of Spain accords copyright during
the life of the author, and eighty years
thereafter. Only in Mexico is copy
RIGHT narnatual