Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-02
NEW COPYRIGHT Law.

NEW CVf hlUul LAW
The President omcially Starts 1t ON III
Legal Way with a ProcIamation-Text
of the Measure-Protection for Authors
Now an Actually.
WASHINGTON, July 1.-The President to-
day issued proclamation providing for the
granting Of copyright privileges in the
United States to the citizens or subjects of
Belgium, France Great Britain and Switzer-
land, in accordance with the provision of
the act which went into effect to-day.
The first section of the new law provides
that the author, inventor, designer or pro-
prietor Of any book, map, chart, dramatic or
musical composition, engraving, cut, print,
or Photographic negative thereof, or Of a
painting, drawing, chrome, statuary, and Of
models or designs intended to be perfected
as works of fine arts, and the executors adj
illustrators or assigns of such persons
shall, upon complying with the provisions
OF this chapter, have the sole liberty Of
ing, copying, executing, finishing and vary
ing the same, and in the case OF dramatic
composition, of publicly performing or rep
resenting II, or causing 1t to be performed or
assigns shall have exclusive right to dramat-
lie and translate any oftheir works for which
copyright shall have been obtained under
WIG laws VI tu6 Uu1t6Q OCdCeS.
Continuation of Copyright.
1t is further provided that the author, in
ventor or designer, if he be still living, or
his widow or children If he be dead, shall
have the same exclusive right continued for
the further term Of IA years, upon recording
the title of the work or description Of the
article 50 secured a second time and COM
plying with all other regulations in regard
TO original copyright within six months be-
such persons shall within two months from
the date Of said renewal cause q copy of the
record thereof to be published in one or
more newspapers printed in the United
states Tor the space of four weeks.
No person shall be entitled to a copyright
unless he shall, on or before the day of pub
ncat1on In this or any foreign country, de-
liver at the Office Of the Librarian Of Con-
gress, or deposit in the mail within the
United States. addressed to the Librarian of
Congress at Washington, District of Colum-
D1a, a printed copy Of the title Of the book,
map, chart dramatic or musical compost
ton, engraving, cut, print photograph or
chromo, or q description of the painting,
drawing, statue, statuary or q model or de-
sign for work Of the fine arts, for which he
desires copyright.
Importations That Are Barred.
During the existence of such copyright,
the Importation into the United States of
any book, chrome, lithograph or photograph
SO copyrighted, or any edition or editions
thereof, or anyplates Of the same not made
from type set negatives or drawings on
stone made within the limits of the United
States. shall be prohibited, except in the
cases specified in paragraphs Nos. 512 to 5l6
inclusive, in section 2 of the act entitled IAN
act to reduce the revenue and equalize the
DUTY on imports, and for other purposes"
approved october ], 1890; and except In the
cases OF persons purchasing for use and not
!or sale who import subject TO the duty
thereon not more than two copies Of such
pook at any one time: and except in che
tanning In whole or In part matter copy
rfghted under the provisions Of this act, un-
authorized by the author. which are ex-'
empted from prohibition Of importation.
Every person who shall print or publish
any manuscript whatever, without the con-
sent OF the author or proprietor first OBJ
tanned, shall be liable to the author or pro-
prietor for all damages occasioned by such
injury.
Penalties for Evading the Law.
Ifany person after the recording of the
title Of any map, chart, dramatic or musicali
composition, print. cut, engraving or photo
graph, or chrome, or of the description Of
any painting, drawing, statue, statuary, or
model or design intended to be perfected
and executed as a work of the fine arts as
provided by this act shall, within the term
limited, and without the consent of the pro-
prietor of the copyright first obtained in
writing, signed in presence of two OF more
witnesses, engrave, etch, work, copy print,
publish, dramatize, translate or import
either in whole or in part, or by varying the
main design with intent to evade the law,
or knowing the same to be SO printed, pub
Hshed, dramatized translated or imported
shall sell or expose to sale any copy Of such
map or other article as aforesaid he shall
forfeit to the proprietor all the plates on
which the same shall be copied, and every
sheet thereon either copied or printed and
shall farther forfeit 81 for every sheet Of the
same found in his possession.
In case ofa painting, statue or statuary
he shall forfeit $40 for every copy of the
same in his possession or by him sold or ex-
proprietor and the other half to the United
States.
Benehciaries Of the Act.
The act shall only apply to citizen or
subject of a foreign state or nation when
such foreign state or nation permits to citi-
zens of the United States of America the
benefit of copyright on substantially the
same basis as its own citizens, or when such
foreign state or nation is party to an inter-
national 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 be-
come party to such an agreement.
The existence of either of the conditions
shall be determined by the Presi-
dent OF the United States by proclamation
made from time to time as the purposes of
this act may require.