The morning call., 1891-03-13
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT

After a struggle which covered forty
years the rights OF foreign authors in the
products of their brains have at length been
recognized by Congress. 1t was in 1872
that Charles Dickens addressed his vigor-
Gus letter to the American people on the
subject Of international copyright. He
claimed that he was being robbed Of that
which was as clearly his property as the cot
tOn-gin had been the property of its paten-
tees. His demonstration probably retarded
the cause which he advocated. He was an
indiscreet writer, and made opponents In
stead of converts Had he remained silent,
as other English authors did. the Interna-
ti0nal Copyright Bill might have become a
law some years ago.
The changes in the attitude Of the classes
chiefly in eresie in copyright have been
curious. In the fiftieS the chief opponents
Of international copyrighE were the Harpers
of New York, who at that time enjoyed
practical monopoly Of the republication Of
English novels. A few years later, when
their periodicals. became the chief channel
through which the best English fiction
reached American readers, it became neceS-
sary for the publishers TO buy the manu-
script, or at least advance proof-SheetS, in
order to keep them out of rivals hands, and
this enforced change Of position led to
change of opinion on the part of the great
publishing-hOuSe, which became as strenu-
Gus an advocate of International copyright
as it had been its adversary. But by that
time new generation of publishers had
grown up which, under the names OF George
Munro, John W. Lowell and others, under
took to reprint in serials all the best English
fiction, and to lay it before the reading pub
lie at the price of few cents per book.
These publishers were of course hostile to
copyright 1t would have injured their
business.
They found allies in public menwho looked
at the subject from the standpoint of the
reader, and of the national advantage of
cheap literature, rather than that of the
rights of the author. It was said that an
ordinary English novel which sold in En-
gland for guinea-say S5-was reproduced
here for % cents; and that the effect of in
lernational copyright would be to raise the
American price and style of publication to
the English standard. This would have
compelled Americans either to resort to the
Nude system of circulating libraries or to
get along with much fewer books than usual.
! Those who took this view obtained assist
ance from the classes which were engaged in
| ers, book-binders and publishers. They
argued that the passage of an international
copyright law would give to English pub
| fishers and printers monopoly OF American
markets and would confne the business Of
| American publishers to home products.
These three classes of opponents of interna-
tional copyright succeeded for many years
| in defeating the efforts of authors to obtain
recognition from Congress.
But, in time, most things change. Pam
| phIet editions of novels went out of fashion ;
the Seaside Library and its imitatorS ceased
| to appear and their owners ceased to take
| part in the discussion. In order TO meet the
| views of printers and publishers, the Copy
| right League agreed to a provision which
| absolutely prohibited the importation for
| sale of foreign books Of which editions were
| issued in this country, and likewise prohib-
tied the importation of foreign electrotyDe
| plates; this concession satisfied the print
ers, they withdrew their opposition, and the
class which was hostile to international
copyright on the ground that it would make
books dearer found that it stood alone ON its
side of the question and was in a minority.
So the bill passed.
Under the law as it now stands 1t appears
that, as is the case in England, foreigner
can obtain n copyright for work published
in this country on the same terms as citi-
zen; but the mechanical part of the book
making must be done here. The law of En-
gland requires that to secure a copyright
the FIRST publication shall be made there.
Whether this provision has been embodied
in the Sherman act it will need The text of
the act to determine. However this may be
it is hardly likely that the measure will be
found perfect as it stands. Experience will
suggest amendments to be considered at
future sessions Of Congress.