New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-19
THE COPYRIGHT LAW.
rs THERE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN TIP
SOME SAY THERE Is-THE PROHIBITION NoH
EXTENDED TO PUBLICATIONS IN LAM
crAcEs OTHER THAN ENGLISH.

GUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH
Crave doubt exists in the minds OF seVerai
au,prs who have been carefully studying une
r.x Copyright law 10 whether II reahS "o-
oomplishes all that the champions OF the measure
honed would be the result OF the act IL sens
49,, there is serious defect in the law. and that
literary piracy may yet be carried On 10 SUM
vent in spite of determined efforts TO suppress
n The important omission in the la"' IL 'h'
oninion OF a man who is entirely familiar WIN us
provisions is correct, lies in its failure 10 eA'e"u
Tho prohibition of the importation of copyrighted
,ro-ts n publications in languages other thah
Fngnsh This was certainly unintenuona on uhe
nart NJ the trainers of the act, for an aMehunio"'
~ Senator Sherman which permitted the INTRO
duction of books and other publlcatlonS III "'n
sraces other than English was not accepted
nevertheless the law seems to permit "ns' W"
gross was so anxious should not be allo"eu'
The act as approved March 3, 1891, reads Ii
mart. as follows During the existence "a 9uO"
copyrignt the importation into the Ohl.eu o'aV1'
of any book chrome, hthoGraph OF p"oVei"P
so copyrighted, or any edition OF e"i.ion' 80
or any plates Of the same not ma"e iiON ~
set neoatives or drawings stone MADE wilhln
the limits of the United States, snail DC ana
hereby is prohibited except In the cases
srci6ad in paragraphs j12 TO $40 included In sec
,ior Of the act entitled An act to reduce the
,ov.npe end eoualize the duties on imports, and
tor other nurposes' approved October /, ls9O; ana
sxoent in the case of persons purchasing 1or use
and not for sale, who import, SUBJECT 70
,b. duty thereon, not more than two copies OF
such book at any one time; and except IN the
ease of newspapers and magazines not containing
In whole or in part matter copyrlghteu uhueI 'ne
provisions of this act unauthorized by inc author,
which are hereby exempted from promotion OF
importation: provided, nevertheless, tnat III tne
ease Of books in foreign languages, OF when only
,,anslations in English are copyrighted, the pro-
bibition Of importation shall apply only TO the
translation of the same, and the importation Oh
the books in the original language shall oe per-
mitted"
The act of October l. 1890, referred TO Is the
McKinlec Tariff act, and paragraph 5l5 OIL 'hS
reads Books and pamphlets printed exclusively
in languages other than English; also DOCKS ana
music, in raised print, used exclusively oy lne
blind"
This question has recently been the SUBJECT OF
comment among authors and publishers OF TINS
citv and while the friends of the Copyright law
are loath TO admit that the measure IS delecuNe
In any particular, several lawyers who have IN
vestipated the question say that the law Is GER
,ainlv defective on this point. II this statement
is true the French, German or Italian author re-
oeives no benefit from the new law. Nel'her couu
the American author prevent the introduction lhVo
this country of copies OF his own writings prlh'eu
in other languages, for the law will apply only TO
indications in the English language Inc LUZ
nor,ation 70 this country Of books printed IN ior
zion languages is greater than the reading puoAc
generally Is aware OF.
Henry NJ StanleyS book, printed IN a hummer VI
lar.
when il was imported into this country. This was
before the enactment of the present CopyHghl
law. If the Interpretation of the law given Is
correct. In Darkest Africa if printed IN Tor
efru language could now be brought III without
Interference, even if the work had been copy
righted.
George Haven Putnam, the publisher, said yes
terday TO Tribune reporter: do not WISH 10
give an opinion just now on this question: IL
certainly was not the intent of the advocates OF
the law that the copyright should not extend to
books printed in foreign languages, but could
not offer a legal opinion on that question unuI
had given the subject more attention. 1t is not
likely that the law Is perfect. 1t contains
provisions which no doubt, will have 10 be tested
In the courts. and it remains 70 be seen what the
law will accomplish.
Another publisher said: 1t must be remem-
bered that the passage OF the Copyright Dil was
most desired 10 have the copyright principle
admitted in the legislation OF the United States,
and the supporters OF the measure thought IL Wise
70 accept the good that l. possible under the clr-
cumstaices, with a prospect OF getting something
better in the future. | believe the law Is good
one that il viii stand the'test, and will no longer
tolerate the literary pirate III the United States.
II seems to me that it removes the grievance which
American authors have long held against their
country Like great many new measures, 1t
raF-have some defects, but | cannot believe that
the defect in respect TO publications in foreign
languages which Is said TO exist can be a serious
one"