New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-14
THE LAWS OF COPYRIGHT.
VIEWS OF PUBLISHERS ON THE CANADIAN
AGITATION
,-xpprssroNs OF OPINION FROM GEORGE HAVEN
PUTNAM. w. W. APPLETON. FRANK
DODD AND OTHERS

PUTNAM w. W. APPLETON FRANK
DopD AND OTHERS
The utterances contained in The Tribune's
london letter OF last Sunday regarding the old
,,rns copyright controversy have found a deeply
,,,erested circle Of readers among authors and
uh,ishers on this side of the ocean, The ques-
,,on Is being asked If Canada is to be permitted
n 90 on forever, pirating American works and
rsnc American mail facilities to place them upon
ar American market. for investigation appears
~ make plain the fact that they have not liv-
ing market at home. This question is which
Afr Chamberlain the new Secretary for the Colo
r,es will have to determine and that his answer
will be awaited with absorbing interest both by
,uhlshers and authors on both sides the At
,,ntic need not be emphasized. AS George Ha-
Won Putnam. Of G.. p. Putnam's Sons. remarked
4. q Tribune reporter yesterday, II took fifty
Gears OF unceasing effort to secure a copy
tight law and it would be a misfortune indeed
y what may we'll be called the work of life
time should be ruthessly dashed aside by any
un,oward act at this moment
Mr.. PUTNAMs VISIT TO ENGLAND.
Mr. Putnam has just returned from England
rhere he spent some time He II was who took
m the copyright question where his father laid
q down. so that by father and son fifty years
rere spent in the effort to get international
eopyright statute Mr.. Putnam said he, himself.
AID not favor the manufacturing clause which
Intimately got a place in the law in the interest
ofthe typographical unions: but II was consistent
With the protection principles Of this Government
and on that basis he agreed on the theory
fha, II was better to have a law with the pro-
,ecton clause than none at all Canada now
comes forward with the plea for a like protection,
FOR II is to the manufacturers clause that the
importers Of the Canadian copyright giving
particuar emphasis. ION this point" remarked
Mr. Putnam with a smile '1t is hardly consist
ent for to sermonze to any great extent The
trouble is that the Importance Of the book pub
fishing industry in Canada does not justify the
demand for a law such as is proposed While not
IN position TO state with absolute accuracy, Mr.
Putnam said he did not think there were more
than seven or eight book publishing firms in Can
ada that would be benefited by the law. Thus it
was plain that the interest at stake was in no
wise commensurate with the demand.
Logically" said he. the Canadian publishers
are perhaps right in their demand for a aw, but
practically their contention IS wrong. We as pub
khers know how hard II is 10 make good book
pay among a population Of 650Oo.0oO of people
By that. Of course, do not mean 65,ooO,OOO OF
book ls-buyers. Look at Canada, then, with her
900 and a proportion OF them Indians ana
French Canadians. But the few have been cum
ming enough to fix their demand upon basis OF
patriotism and national pride TO win the
ma jority TO their side.
Mr.. Putnam spoke entertainingly Of his visit
10 England and said that while there he had
frequent conversations on the subject OF the
copyright and found both authors and publishers
unit in their opposition to the Canadian de-
nand. He felt that the issue would be fairly
met by Mr.. Chamberlain who is far-seeing and
just.
W. W. APPLETON'S VIEWS.
W. W. Appleton. of d. Appleton & Co.. Is the
acting president of the Publishers Copyright
League, In place of his father William Il. APP
pleton, the actual president of the organization
Mr. Appleton's firm recognized the rights OF Tor
eign authors long before the passage OF the
Copyright bill. and Mr.. Appleton was among the
most prominent and active advocates for the
massage OF the bill Regarding the Canadian at
titude toward international copyright. w. w.
Appleton spoke warmly and to the point on the
issue as raised. He said:
: II have read with deep interest Mr.. Fords
clear and admirable summary of present condl-
tons published IN last Sundays Tribune ana
think that all those who believe that literary
property should be respected and the rights ol
authors maintained appreciate the Work WHICH
The Tribune has done in this cause MI. foru
points are we'll taken. The Canadian Copyright
act is wrong and immoral because 1t takes from
the author the control of us property and prac-
tcally legalizes piracy. WHY is not the autnoi
entitled 10 the same recognition and protecuoh
o, his own interests which are given to his neigh-
bor in another occupation? Yet. instead OF al
,ou.,no tho author or his representative to ar
efai he
any one after thirty days TO take the authoi
property on the basis OF al aroltIary ra.e "a Pas
ment. which the author mas no ToIre ~ nent does
~ guarantee TO him. And II past experience
goee for ANYTHING he will have dlllcuty in col
lect.ng it,
THE CANADIAN MANUFACTURING CLAUSE
Repard,ng the manufacturing clause upon
which the Canadians are laying so much sress
Mr. Appleton remarked:
"As TO the Canadian manufacturing clause anu
their contention that their act is really 'noie
liberal than ours, there is the simple answer 'na'
their home market for books does not Jus'''
manufacturing in their own country WIN '"0
American market does. It is known by actuai eN eN
,ar,aaoe 49, the Canadian market alone VIII
No, nav for the making of expensive pooKs, anu ii u
that he sale for most classes % n,, ,aree man
does not warrant the theory INA, any any ,tt ' ~
ufacturing industry is waltlng ~, =, g. noes
"Finallv and most important OF an; ~ - DC p
HE ,hat the Canadian act might ia, o',ro ~
Ole 'a' the wnmld cause az iljudged pres
for the repeal Of our Copyright law ner unuf to-
no circumstances should there " ,S 1injted states
recede from the position whlch tne e,hors o recog-
,ss taken on the side Of justice 10 au'lo ho,,s
aon Of literary property and neneS' septiment
annot help thinking that the earIy as vet.
and T. IS 10 be hoped that after fu Gs
the matter with representatives oi Arrange
.oncerned an honorable and sa'si"''
nent can be reached. rdd Mead e. Co.
Frank Dodd, Of the firm OF Douu' "e
ssid: .hts suhiect and
SO much has been written on rs ' the attitude
is so altered that II has become POP dn no, know
fishers simply 10 remark that they rdpv op think.