New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-03
TALKS ON COPYRIGHT.
PROTEST OF FRENCH AUTHORS DIS
CUSSED

ROBERT UNDERWOOD JOHNSON AND EDMUND
CLARENCE srEDMAN GIVE THEIR VIEWS.
The cable dispatch from London which appeared
In The Tribune yesterday. relating the protest
made by the authors and publishers Of France
against the adoption Of the Canadian copyright
act of 1859. or any compromise based upon the
manufacturing clause was widely read and dis
cussed yesterday by all interested in such matters
Robert Underwood Johnson. secretary Of the
American Copyright League. was seen at his home
No. 3T Lexington-ave last night. by Tribune re-
porter, and In commenting on the dispatch said:
I'm my opinion this protest Is matter which only
indirectly concerns the United States. The coun-
Gil OF the American Copyright League has already
published an official resolution expressing Its pleas
ure at the prospect Of the abandonment by Canada
OF the pernicious scheme OF miscellaneous or open
publishing which her act OF 1858. had 1t been APP
proved by the British Government. would have per-
United. The council Of the League DID not feel
called upon 10 ndorse the substitute agreed upon in
its broad lines b. Canadian representatives on the
one hand and Mr. Hall Game and Mr.. +. r. Daddy.
acting for English interests the other. because
this measure has not been formulated in detail AS
/ understand by the terms Of the Berne Convention.
1t Is possible to exclude Canada from It's benefits
by reason Of the existence in her proposed law Of
manufacturing clause. do not think this ex-
cluson would prevent Canada from passing the
proposed substitute Personally. | think that Mr..
Hall Cane accomplished triumph OF diplomacy in
procuring the acceptance by Canada Of his sub
stiue. Before he went TO Canada the situation
was apparently a choice between the refusal OF
England to inlorse bad Canadian copyright law,
which would have seriously impaired the copyright
relations Of England and the United States. or. on
the other hand. OF seeming refuse to Canada the
autonomy IN copyright matters apparently guaran-
teed by the terms OF Canadian union. Mr.. Game
found happy way out OF the dilemma. the
ceptance OF which showed a distinct advance on
the part OF the Canadian authorities In the direction
OF the security Of intellectual property. I believe
that the adoption Of this proposed new law would
be In the material interest OF Canada than
the Berne Convention. which is. OF course. the ideal
copyright law and for this reason am inclined 10
think the French protest will not accomplish its
purpose"
AS to Mr.. Moncure u. Conway and his boast Of
representing 800 American authors. I venture to
say he represents nobody the copyright question
except himself. and possibly his cook. unless his
following has been recruited since the copyright
campaign of lSsO-91. His renewed activity just
is due to the fact that Hall Gaines scheme is
take the place Of the open piracy scheme feeby
and futiley advocated by Mr.. Conway at the time
OF the passage OF present law. American
thors have been very forbearing with Mr.. Conway's
vagaries on the copyright question. but they have
not forgotten that he the only American author
who actively advocated a continuance Of literary
piracy in his own country in preference 10 the
present honorable and successful. II not wholly
isfactory law. | have been able to the
dshonor Of paying ninety nine-one hundredths OF
the writing fraternity what is properly their due
because at the same time you are not able to secure
an ideal state OF affairs for the -hundredth,
namely. the unknown authors. When the Issue Is
presented OF the present law pure and simple
copyright American authors Will be found as In the
past. the side OF the largest measure of Justice;
but Mr. Conway will be able % rally a
poral's guard in defence OF his stamp system Of
copyright so ably exploded By Mr.. Herbert Spencer
oetorr the Parliamen,a6y Commission 81 S
American Copyright League was asked his views
Johnson had stated the case clearly and thoroughly.
as he always does when International copyright is
The rist OF the matter is" continued Mr.. sted-
risht obta.nable by her own authors In the United
states under The PROPOSED Hall Game al, substitute
publishers and Authors than any return that
to the BerS ''Hpt the G matter
comes TO an. absolute issue, think Canada will
permit herself 10 be excluded from the Berne Con-
vent.on
las for Mr.. Conway's position do not forget that
for years prior the formation OF the present
American Copyright League ! opposed an inter-
national copyright requiring the publication OF a
taneously with It's publication abroad: but it be-
came evden, that could not establish the
principal OF International copyright without yield
Ing that point, 1t s also plain that when a foreign
author has obtained a reputation by one book he
has difficulty I'm finding publisher on generous
terms FOR his next book here. There have been
several striking Instances OF this, and time has
proved that the victory obtained by our League
in the passage of the act Of 1891 was as nearly
complete AZ reformer need desire
Mr. Stedman added that at the beginning OF the
year he had resigned the presidency Of the AmerI-
can Copyright League. after nearly five years
service. The League still maintains It's organza-
ton for the purpose OF resisting attempts 10 i'm
pair the integrity and working value OF the law
and such modification experience
proves may be necessary TO perfect Il.
At the home OF George II. Putnam. No. 2i5 West
Seventy -nfth-st.. II was learned that Mr. Putnam
was slightly ndisposed and for that did
wish 10 talk.