New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-04
MISS LEES PETITION.
AN AGITATION FOR THE REPEAL OF THE
COPYRIGHT LAW NOW IN FORCE
A CLAIM THAT PROPERTY IN BRAIN WORK IS
AS REAL AS PROPERTY IN STOCKS
REAL ESTATE OR BONDS

REAL ESTATE OR BONDS.
Miss Margaret Lee Of No. 344 Lafayette ave.
Rrookvn has instituted a movement that affects
all persons whose brains source OF capital
This is an agitation for the repeal Of the Copyright
law now in force by which the authors right 10 his
books ceases exist forytwo years after publica-
ton.
Miss Lee is in deep earnest about the copyright
reform and has prepared a petition for all inter-
ested TO sign.
The idea suggested itself to me" she said ION
seeing a chance newspaper statement that several
large editions of works by American authors, copy
righted previous to 1857 were soon TO be issued 1t
seemed to me a scandalous thing that the writer's.
several of whom still living. should have no
profit from the transaction. Marion Harland. Mrs.
Holmes Mrs. julia Ward Howe. Donald G. Mitchell
are names that occur TO without stopping TO
think and without doubt there are many others.
The law is sixty-eght years old. and is old fogy
10 the last degree. IL well enough perhaps,
although never really just. when books were ex-
pensve and the poorer people could not buy, but
now there is no longer the shadow OF reason for
taking away a writer's ownership and giving it 10
the public II build house II remains mine until
! deliberately sell 1t. If l build book with my
brain why should the Government arrogate the
right TO say when 1t should cease TO be mine and
become the property of many wished to claim
tt2 The writer is more likely TO need the re-
ceipts from his work old approaches than
the business man. for after all brain labor is poorly
paid for except in the instances Of pre-emnen
success.
81 have no doubt Of the success Of the petition
The American people are Just at heart and Will
give Justice when its need is brought to their at
tention Emerson says everything that is desirable
Is possible and 1t is surely desirable that whole
profession should receive common justice In its
relation TO the Government and the public.
"Tbe publishers are with me. because In the end
q viii benefit them. The editors with me, be-
a1i
views. The authors are certainly with me, and
have no fear that Congress will oppose when the
matter is properly presented. as 1t will be-
AUTHORS PETITION.
tn the Congress of the United States this petition
We the undersigned authors, editors Journalists
etc hereby call your attention to the iInitauppns ions
they be abolished We demand perpetual copy
right We believe that properly IN Ddsn w0ih ha1
estate We claim that mental labor is as honest
ar. as individual as manual industry or any puSi-
Ne Know that the profession of authorship re,
quires years of study and preparation SHuEr t bis
nresent system an author loses all right IN MS
BOOK When it has published f9rty.two years
writer 5 has If hook be- the Of
sixtv.two he has no further claim 10 IT. IT may
be popular work It may e ee f be in need of money
for his daily bread. Authorship IKE otner P
a lime when he should be able 10 reap the tull
harvest Of his early labors. He should nave me
ROYALTY on every book that he mas Wfitteh uuiIns
his lie and be able to will his right IN MS "orh
When a Iaw permits injustice the period for us
repeal has arrived To-day in the Unlted states
there are many writers whose cary WI No aro
business matter, bring out lhe poPu I ae ,beno
were copyrighted before 1851 the Ia" gives t th
the rigut 10 reprint such volumes; the authors
have no redress. - -o.,,,oi dra ~ all AL
thors In Queen Anne's reign. when laws Ieearuinns
the limiting of copyright were hrst eHioicsu,
price OF books very high. our GoveIn,ie IL
copied the English legislat loh Oh tno f' "
1881 the present system became law: -
Sixty-eight years have passed. Inc masses Ca"
buy books 49,, 49,, .rr,h % that
instead of beine in the lead the United states is
behind the age in her method OF dealing WIN
authors Here are some facts. In Russia, copy.
right exists during authors nle tWenS-n'.Ss
an edition of his works is published Withn ny ms
years Of end of the term In SPAN, authV q, M M
and ffty Years thereafter. In Germany, Tor au-
thors life and thirty years theTealtef III a,ria'
Sardinia Tuscany and the Papal states, autn0I >
life and thirty years thereafter. Holland an1 per
GUM authors life and twenty years theie teI.
We demand that the United States shaii az liz
perpetual ask that the law may take ii'iineu,
ate effect in the OF justice ana Apply W an
copyrights given during the year 1898 Gnu si.Se
that date. The reason OF the law is tne III ~
On the life of copyright having a,,,hnr
limitation should cease and the right OF the abthor
In his works should be perpetual.
Among those who have already signed the peti-
ton Willis A. Bardwell Librarian OF the BROOK
Ign Mercantile; Carlos Martyr. Of Neelys Puohsn-
Ing Company; f. II. Sylvester, Editor OF truth