Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
COPYRIGHTS TO FOREIGN AUTHORS.

Preparations at the Congressional Library to
Carry Out the New Law.
By the act approved March 8, 1891, the inter
national copyright law went into effect the first
day of July. Many applications have already
been received from London firms in regard to
copyrighting books which they have low in presa
1t must not be understood by Americans that,
having been granted a copyright by this gov
eminent, they have also secured an interna-
tional one. Application must be made to each
nation individually which is party to the in
ternational agreement
Mr.. Spofford, the librarian Of Congress- has
in preparation directions, to be issued 10 au-
thors when requested. stating where to apply
for British French, Belgian or Swiss copy
right. Others will be issued as soon o. other
nations become party to the international copy
right privilege.
POINTS FROM THE Law.
The principal feature in this law is the re-
ciprocity sentiment expressed. The act ap-
plies to a citizen or subject of foreign nation
only when such foreign nation permits to
citizens Of the United States the benefit Of
copyright on substantially the same basis a.
to its own citizens; or when such for
eign nation is party to an international
agreement which provides for reciprocity in
the granting Of copyright, by the terms Of
which agreement the United States may, at its
pleasure, become q party to il. The existence
Of either of these conditions shall be deter
mined by the President and whenever they
shall be deemed by him to exist he shall BY
proclamation extend the benefit Of the copy
right in the United States TO the citizens Of
foreign nations.
Satisfactory official assurance having been
given that in Belgium, France, Great Britain
and the British possessions and Switzerland
the laws permit TO citizens Of the United States
M all % he
same basis as to citizens Of those countries the
benefit Of copyright in the United States 70
citizens Of those countries was granted ON
July by proclamation Of the President
privilege win be extended 10 the citizens Of
other foreign nations when the nations 20
which such. citizens are subject enact lavs
which emboey the privilege 70 Americans
The only change In fees 10 that Of 50 cont
TO be paid by foreigners tn addition 10 the usual
order TO defray the expenses incurred BY TIE
Secretary OF the Treasury In preparing and
printing, at intervals Of not more than a veek.
catalogues Of title-entries BY foreigners and for
the distrtbutton Of such entries 10 the colIsc-
tors Of customs and 10 the postmssters al N
post ofaces receiving foreign maiIs.
Only books trsnslated into the EnRiish can
be copyrighted according 10 the scS. ana q
such books - are publahed abroad In the I'm
shsh language and mot copyrightsd NOT mors
son for ;SUp,sS n my % i%Porssd By any per
mont Of the usual duty Of Is Per cent
Ihe act provides that al books for which sp-
piicatton for copyright b made shall be printsd
from type ~ within the United Stats, and
that all the work Of manufacture must be done
within within the unis:d ss.:ss: II: 4. shss en-.
The importation q books in foreign hnguaga
shah be permitted without eussrict1oa g =
numbers, but ths duty rsnains - ef SiA