New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-11
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT IN PERIL

won Much has been gained. but not beyond
the reach of loss Indeed, there Is now imminent
danger that all that has been done may De I'M
dono and the English-rcading world be turned
hack 70 the wretched old system Of literary
niracv II is not. perhaps. generally known that
an agent Of the Canadian Government Is ut this
moment in London, seeking TO effect that very
thing: yet such is the case. Not, OF course III
ro,o Tho Commissioner was sent from OF
tawo on invitation Of the Rosebery Government
10 confer with the Colonial Office upon the cana
dian DOWNRIGHT law. which was adopted by the
Dominion Government some years ago out mas
NOT vet received Imperial sanction. He reached
London after the Rosebery Ministry had faiien'
and is now in consultation with Mr. Chamber
lain. the new Colonial Secretary-a Minister u!
the.wav. in whom the Canadians have especial
confidence Nominally. the result or the con-
ference will decide whether the Canadian law Is
to be approved as it stands, or be ma'eria!
modified Actually it WILL as we have SAID make
a worldwide choice between copyright anu
piracy.
In the lucid and convincing letter when we
print on another page OF todays IriDuhe' our
London correspondent makes this last fact piiih'
The Canadian copyright law is grossly unjust
one IT gives the foreign author protection. only
on condition that he registers his book al Ottawa
simultaneously with its first publication else
where and reprints it in the DOMINION Wi'iih
one month thereafter. II he does not 90 these
things. he forfeits his rights to protection Any
Canadian publisher may then reprint his booK' III
any style and at any price, subject only 10 Il
nominal obligation TO pay him III per cent roy!
atty. That royalty Is in many cases Tar 100
small and in any case there Is no adequate pro
vision for enforcing payment of 1t. The law Is
thus Migrant violation Of the principles OF the
Berne Convention and as Mr.. Ford tersey puts
it. is the abolition Of private property In copy
right" If It be asked how Canada, after accept
ing the Berne Convention, could pass such law
the answer is ready though it also may not be
| generally known Canada accepted that Con-
| yention-or Great Britain did so for her-ony on
condition that she might withdraw from 1t on
years notice Moreover, Great Britain did not
absolutely pledge Canada to observe the Con-
| vention at ALL but merely promised to try to per-
| shade her to do So Now the Canadian law vio-
latcs the principles of the Convention II Great
Britain approves the law. the Convention Is de-
stroyed She has probably no right, on Imperial
grounds, TO disallow or TO annul the law. But II
she had she would thus merely drive Canada to
play the part Of pirate at will
| The problem is a vexing one and will require
| all Of Mr. Chamberlains astuteness and dizziness
| Of mind to solve it satisfactorily. British au
| thors are of course profoundly interested in it,
| So are American authors, and so should be the
American Government and people The purpose
| Of the present Canadian law is evident 1t is to
! enable Canadian publishers to supply the Cana
| dian market and to food the American market
with cheap piratcd editions of European books.
| There is no doubt that 1t would soon effect that
purpose The enormous advantages it gives the
Canadian printer ovel his competitor in the
| United States assure 1t. In the face OF such
| conditions the maintenance Of international
| copyright by this country would be impossible,
| unless the publishing trade here were 10 be
| abandoned altogether In favor of Canadian print
| ors And that is the fact that should be made
clear. in the most explicit and emphatic manner,
| to the British Government. Mr. Chamberlain
| should be made 10 understand that if Canada
| is to play fast and loose with the Berne Conven-
| ton the United States will not long be bound by
| IT, If Canadian printers TO food our markets
with pirated reprints. our copyright agreement
with Great Britain will promptly be cancelled.
| II may stimulate Mr.. Chamberlain In his efforts
| for n settlement to know that fact. II is not to
be supposed that any British Minister in his
| senses would provoke repeal Of the American
foreign copyright law, after being warned of It
| by the American Government.