New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-05
COPYRIGHT md THE DRAMA.
stephen Fiske. in The Spirit OF the Times.

stephen FiSke in The Spirit OF the Times.
Congress intends The ne" Copyright law as Christ
present 10 American authors and dra1nati-t- but
To his international rights. the author. native
foreign, must have his boon OF play printed DC
post two copies. from type sci "a tc hlicd HAtf
With the Librarian OF Congress, or before the day ~
il, publication abroad amt, OF course comply with Oh"
provisions ol thc "WHth, Ia" ID i"rilh cmi.l'l'-,
lie do all TIN, fic question has been tested
again and again, aud it ha, been found thai III" laV
yer, law Of property ln Al UNPUBLISHED manuscript
q device Wh.cu We believe 20 b. uucou- iWjoual - -
better practical protection than any cpFu-ni b'"d
Moreover, The new law VIII have 70 De approved
AND rrc!ppcttrd by the government, % Ih-hi',
France. Germany and Italy before II 'ah 10 l"io op
whether by Ignorance or design. it is law for TIE
protection ~ author, here and not give any p4D
lection t. an American book or play abroad o."
French AID German dumati-t- publish Their play ana
secure income from the publications.. ~ from Il
better b3rg1ns with our manager. for their Print
vor... In England play are printed after ;hcy ha'o
lad their rum, tnd he new l VII -iye British autlor,
the right 10 claim roy alt'e for cI'. American iLt'
are ncyc, prrtrd-1- regret . say iha: most of them
are AOi worth printing Iud, q Trey Wcc could DO; Doe
used abroad without eAt"ho.'" alterations.
whore. then, IS tie advantage II the me" ia" to
Thr contention - made that. d., the nov lav. our
managers will be obliged t. pay h-h'r pr Tor oirli
work a. beng cheaper Ih,. b. not tru". pur man
a9cr- now pa! MH more p,ai" l". l''e'sH , t
lean dramati-t-uDt even Bronson Howard A- 80 r
received from American manager, o, large sums ''
>:rlOu iu France: I'm, and otr machine pdyWlI-'i'
in England. Thus statement apple equally (" tho
plays purchased for lump sum and 70 those bought
Wi-h Jew exceptions no American dranati,' la ever
rec"Ved pcr,cn}1so "I ops r, uI ,, ADD ,G,i
lions fran tho French have been pad for dp'n these
Tne highest ca.n prize for an American play is
$4,000 Half dofen English mcOdramA:i-t. have
received than this sam IN royafr, for only ~"
,oale' nc Of their production .u this country. The
Ame1'a roy hsr r simf. pc"mprl1ed man,@r, 10
,lo q az
ccssfnl American dranai,t received 80 pcrfor1uc"
for act pIay but foreign pla "rghts receive from
two 10 ia times that sum through 'ucH dt'hi' ~
Within reasonable limits. the price Of a play dors
is GOOD because q IS cheap. Any play is cheap that
draw, thc public No protective tarf ever induce
managers 10 produce American PLAYS by making Tor
cjsn plays dcircr. II !, "A fundamental error {" the
sdrocatcs Of the law 70 suppose that the piCc Of
MAY, has any hing 10 do with their prOductlpn It-
price doe, not ahec, thc public in any way. ihr'
pay the money 10 see good pi1y a. 10 ,,r a
tie manager. whose sole cohsd'i"iOu j., NOT "hA'
ROYALTY he ,han pay. but whether play is likely T."
one r.aton why our manager prefer foreign play -
higher prizes than native J. l"'a'~I my OF ,
that thcv do draw the WI,lc. IN uuaciod play j. "r
a Ticket In a lott"ry. 10 may vlr prW. or - "dh"
vI;cn means a lo-~. NobOdy cam b'H beforehand II
an"lody cuuld thcatrica! mauar"uca' w0Uli d. re-
duccd 10 science. and every pa" o. aiuu'cu'n' ""nh
Ihc ,y,tcn ~ pr'scui is that theatrical ems a'"h'
thc drc,, r.hcar-d> or first performance, 81 pl1' b
abroad make their offers lo tr tl'Apr 'tni" 'u'
term % manager E"r. and are antlol" 4" .iIh 'oH
tract, Tlcy Use thor best judgment, ana. l1 1'"1'
seven ont of ten make proiiah," inNe ,'.'n,
They seldom If ever. try reign iia'' n'lo.' w., P
drrtiou uules- the work are Dr. sucll VOL kio"
author. that suc,c~~ j. almost guaranteed 80 fmrf
lean managers who have coWnl-'ion'I ora aust d"
write play. for them NAV Dr. counted on me Hhg'I'
ono hand stars an" more speculative. hut maiAi''-
want m" brand OF ~arCc-- Oh pray rlorr 'N hN'-'
In II Daniel Frohman i- almost the only American
manager who commissions both native and foreign
Erjtcr, 10 supply him with play.
'tau vii