New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-07
CANADIAN COPYRIGHT.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Our Canadian papers have reprinted a special
cable from London The Tribune to the effect
that the Authors Society have commissioned Hall
Game. while in America to go to Ottawa and negoti-
ate the settlement with the Canadian Government
the copyright controversy; and. further. that
MI Game Is endeavorng 10 secure official recogni-
ton from the Colonial Office in London. ! should
trouble you over this dispatch. rad your cor
respondent gone give details to the
proposed Canadian Copyright act which details
very much astray certain vital points. For
instance II Is stated that the Canadian Parliament
has passed act compelling authors to apply for a
copyright Ottawa the same conditions in
the United States. with the single exception that
simultaneous publication Is not required but mar
gin Of thirty days is allowed
Either Fail Game or your correspondent misses
one vital difference between the Canadian and the
United States copyright acts. The United States act
requires book shall be printed from type
within the limits OF the United States from pla tes
made from type The Canadian act con-
ta.is no such restriction; on the contrary. the
Canadian Parliament passed special provision that
plates for printing books might be imported into
Canada free OF duty. The Canadian act is there
fole much more liberal than the United States act
ip this respect.
Again. Jour correspondent re!terates the somewhat
wosn-out chestnut" that the proposed Canadian
viii enable Canadian printers flood the Ameri-
This theory has been exploded time and again. and
Il is somewhat astonishing that our English friends
are ashamed OF repeating a statement which
they must know is contrary the facts Section
g. $50 OF the United States Copyright contains a
provision as follows: During the existence OF
such copyright the importation into the United
States OF any books. copyrighted. or
any edition editions thereof. any plates OF the
same not made from type set within the
limits Of the United States shall be- and 1t is here
by prohibited" This same clause alone would pre-
vent the Canadians from flooding the United States
market with cheap reprints. and Is a most ef1ectual
answer TO the repeated plants from our English
friends. To say that the law would not he en-
forced is only TO beg the question. The law Is
enforced to-day and will continue be enforced.
Only last week the Canadian authorities
Joining hands with the United States authorities TO
protect the United States copyright owners In pre-
venting the expectation from Canada TO the United
States OF unauthorized reprints OF United States
copyright music We have to-day in Canada cheap
selling at less than one-half the price OF the same
books in the United States. Yet the United States
market Is not flooded with cheap editions sim
ply because the will allow II.
/ will not trespass further on your space. but will
simply add that the right TO pass laws relating
to copyright given Canada under the Brit
ish North America act OF 1861. Canadians have no
option but firmly TO insist on their constitutional
right in this matter.
RICHARD T. LANCEFIELD
Public Library. Hamilton Ont. July 80. 1895