The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-04

for the number of foreign books 'e-made
in this country since the law was passeu,
for a period OF over four years, mas pesn
so small that their bulk mas pern VI , ~
ad.ar t8gc TO the American ''hPo''o'
Another complication, and rathcr
serious one. relates TO copyrEne WIZ,
Canada. This question Is hot 50 "e a..
"A question OF copyright. as IL Is 81 enc
relations OF Canada to the brl,sh CT.
pre. BY the Imperial Copyright Ac.,
TO the security Of which we were AUNT
ted after the passage OF our law, we a..
entitled TO copyright not only IN treat
Britain. but in all her colonies. but the
Canadian government MAINTAINS tnat az
cording TO the fundamental undeiStihu-
ing with Great Britain. as expressed III
its statutes. the question OF copyright was
one which was remanded 10 Cdnada: VI
coGrse. one cannot help sympdtnizins
with Canada on the question OF perIosd-
tive but at the same time. IL Is very
much to be regretted that its local gov
eminent gives It's support to a policy to-
ward literary property, especially toward
American literary property. which mas
been discarded by the experience and by
the morality of The civilized world The
appointment Of Mr.. Hall Game as an IN
termediary between the English copy
right interests and the protesting Cana
dams VIII probably result In some satis-
factory solution Of this difficulty.
Il do not anticipate any bad results
from the recent decision of the solicitor
General OF the Treasury. confirmed by
that of the Acknowledgement In relation
10 the portion Of the law which admits
two copies of every foreign edition In a
single package. l refer TO the Zen
Hur' case. That decision is re-afiir-
nation Of the principles OF the copyright
law. so far as importations in buIN are
concerned. and l do not believe that i'm
portations OF two copies in package
could be made profitable TO the importers
However ! hold this opinion subject TO
change on fuller information.
"a much more important difficulty IN
the copyright law was successfully ad-
justed at the last session Of Congress ~
the abolition of excessive penalties IN
the case OF reprints OF photographs. /
say satisfactorily adjusted. but 1 believe
there is still some dissatisfaction among
owners Of copyright photographs VINO
still desire an amendment OF the law
which will discriminate between inten-
tional and accidental violations. At one
time the amendment TO the law drafted
by the American Copyright League
did contain such discrimination. but
the wording was changed on the advice
of attorneys who are accustomed 10
construe legal language, and was held
TO be matter of determination by the
jury in each case. However, the passage
Of this law. done as ii was. with the en-
tire and friendly concurrence Of a repre-
sentative committee of newspaper pun
fishers, not only abolished manifest
weakness of the law, and thereby made
good understanding between the organic
ed friends Of copyright on the one hand,
and the newspaper press OF the -coun-
try. on the other. so that what threat
ened to be a breach, has become a more
effective union in support of copyright
property.
Another important aspect Of the sub
ject is touched upon by the recent de-
cision of the friendly case brought to
test the meaning of the law as bearing
upon copyright in music. which the
courts have now affirmed to be uncon-
dtional. Those who held that the man
ufacturing clause did not apply to mu-
sic have thus legal confirmation or
their opinion.
'In general. the judicial decisions in
copyright cases under the present stat
ute have all been in the direction of re-
inforcing the largest view OF the rights
Of property. The collection Of these cases
would OF itself make an interesting and
valuable record"
Mr.. johnson repeated his satisfaction
at the friendly attitude Of the newspa-
per press. and the interview was closed.
ARTHUR STEDMAN.