The record-union., 1891-03-22
OUTLINES OF THE INTERNA.
TIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW.

iCSitlIlldlcly UtIleuUeu.
OUTLINES OF THE INTERNA-
TIONAL COPYRIGHT LAW.
The international copyright bill having
become law, it will interest the readers
of good literature and all authors, design
ers and inventors to know in Just what
form it finally received the approval of
Congress and the President. It is not
what was originally asked for by the
writers of the country, but it is a long
advance stride that is very gratifying.
In brief, then, the new law provides
that authors, designers, composers, art
lists or sculptors, printers, engravers or
photographers, shall have for term of
years, with right of one renewal, the
sole right to issue their works, to repro
duce them, and in case of writers, to
dramatize and present them, if copy
righted under the Federal laws Prior
to publication the author must mail to
the Librarian of Congress printed copy
of the title ofth book, map, chart, dram
attic or musical composition, engraving,
cut, print, photograph or chrome, or a
description of the painting, drawing,
statue, statuary, or model or design for
work of the fine arts, for which he de-
sires copyright. On the day of publica-
ton he must mail two copies of the work
to the same official, and of works of
sculpture, fine arts, models, etc., two
Photographic copies must be forwarded.
So long as the copyright thus secured
continues, importation into the United
States of any article so secured, or any
plates of them, types, stones, ETC., not
taken from the originals, made in the
United States, is prohibited, except in
the cases specified in paragraphs 5l2 to
SIG of Section of the Tariff Act of Oc-
tober /, 1890. These are, publications that
have been printed or articles manufact-
ured more than twenty years; printed
matter in raised letters for the blind; mat
the English; works for the use of the
United States; works imported for the
educational, philosophical, literary or
religious societies, colleges, schools of
learning, ETC., not more than two copies
to one invoice, and not then, except under
regulations to be prescribed by the Sec
retary of the Treasury; lastly, books and
household effects of families from foreign
countries, used abroad at least one year,
Exception is also made in the cases of
those who buy for use, and not for sale,
and who import and pay duty on not
more than two copies at any one time.
So, too, exception is made of newspapers,
and magazines not containing, in whole
or in part-except authorized by the
author-matter that is copyrighted. If a
book is in foreign language, and only
the English translation is copyrighted,
then the importation of the translation
only is prohibited.
The fees to be forwarded to the Librari-
an for copyright are: With the title or
description, 80 cents; for copy of the
record, so cents; for recording an assign
ment, 81; for every copy of that record, ST..
If the author or producer is not citizen
or resident the fee for the title-filing is
81. All the fees are to be paid into the
United States Treasury. The lists of
copyrights are to be printed weekly, and
furnished to all collectors of customs and
postmasters handling foreign mails, and
will be furnished to any desiring them
for sum not exceeding S. year.
Whenever there is substantial altera-
ton in a new edition new copies of the
book, or writing, or design, must be filed
with the Librarian of Congress. A
penalty of 500 is assessab1e against any
person stamping or printing an article as
copyrighted that is not, and one-half the
fine goes to the informer. Whoever,
without the consent of the author or
owner in writing, witnessed by two per-
sons, prints or translates or imports, or
sells or offers for sale any copyrighted
work, or design, or article, is liable in
damages and to forfeit every copy so
printed, imported, translated, or offered
for sale. In addition, it is provided that
merely varying the text, or changing the
title, or slightly modifying the score, or
design, or model, with intent to evade the
copyright law, shall not avail as defense.
For the offenses recited, in addition to
liability to pay damages to the owner, the
violator of the copyright law shall forfeit
the plates from which the print is made,
and 81 for every sheet found in the offend
er's possession, either copied or printed,
and $40 for every copy of a painting or
statue found in his possession, or sold by
the offender. One-half of these forfeits 90
to the United States and one-half to the
owner of the copyright. If work issues
in separate volumes each one must be
copyrighted, and so, too, each number of
"a periodical.
The law goes into effect July 1st of this
year. But the last section of the bill is
the all-important one, and in it is the
essence OF the reciprocal relations it ia the