The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-07-10
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.

On July LIST the international copyright
law, passed at the last session, of Congress,
went into effect, so far as England, France.
Bel giIm and Switzerland are concerned.
The event is of sufficient Importance to
warrant the reproduction of the proclama-
ton Of tie President putting the law. in
force. 1t runs as follows:
Whereas, 1t is provided by Section 1S of the
act Of Congress Of March g, 1891, entitled, IAN
act TO amend Title 60, Chapter 3, of the Revised
statutes II lie United States, relating TO copy
rights" ibaI said act ''shaI only apply 10 cltI-
zen CT subject Of foreign state or nation, when
such foIejgn stale or naIiOn permits 10 citizens
Of lie Unit States Of America lie benefit Of
COZ wright on substantially The same basis of its
own citizens, or wien such foreign state or
nation IS party 10 an International agreement
Which provides for reciprocity In The granting OF
copyright, by the terms OF which agreement the
United States OF America may, at its pleasure e,
become party 10 such agreement; and where
az, II is also provided by said section that ''the
existence of either Of the conditions aforesaid
shall be determined by the President OF the
United States by proclamation made from time
10 time Tie purposes OF this act may require" :;
and whereas, satisfactory Official assurances
have been given that in Belgium, France. Great
Britain and The British possessions and SwiZer-
land The law permits 10 citizens Of the United
the same basis as to The citizens of those coun-
tiles; now, therefore, /, Benjamin Harrison,
President of The UuHed States of America, do
declare aud proclaim that the first of the con-
dIiuns specified in Section Is of The act OF March
3, 1891 Is now fulfilled in respect 10 the citizens
or subjects of Belgium, France, Great Britain
ard Switzerland. In testimony whereof have
b. reunio set my hand and caused the seal OF the
United States TO be affixed.
fla pationc xrbicb mara por.;oe la, .ho
Berne convention in 1885, and which then
formed the International Copyright Union,
the following, to wit, Germany, Liberia,
SGain, Hayti. Italy and Tunis. have not yet
signifed their willingness to accept the con-
ditions offered by the law of March g. 1891,
and are thus not included In the procla-
nation.
But henceforth citizens of Great Britain
or her colonies, Of France. Belgium and
Switzerland can take out in this country
copyright on books, plays, pictures or music
composed by them, provided, first. that the
composition to be copyrighted be published
in this country simultaneously with its ap.
pearanee abroad, and secondly that the me-
chanical portion Of the work-type- setting,
lithographing, printing, etc.-be done in the
United States. 1t was necessary TO insert
this provision, in order to placate the typo
graphical unions, which claimed that. with
cut such a safeguard, foreign books would
be printed here from foreign plates.
On the other hand, the American author
can now take out a copyright for his books,
plays, musical compositions or pictures in
Great Britain, France, Belgium and Swifzer-
land, and that copyright will protect him as
completely as If lie had been citizen Of the
countries named. Neither England nor
france have stipulated that the mechanical
portion of the work shall not be done in the
Tinted States