The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-08-29

Amendment. This bulletin Is a hand,
cS'"losue OF all copies of articles, Sent n
the Library for copyright purposes. II
! rs or great value TO libraries of tho conn
! Try, and also To collectors of custome
al ports Of entry, being of assistance IN
preventing the Importation of copyrigbted
| articles. ~
! Inc most important clause of the conv.
/ Ilght act OF 1891 is that which extends
sthe copyright privilege ito 4 citizen nv
subject of foreign state or nation wben
| such foreign state or nation pern,its n
clt!zens OF the United States of America
me dement, OF copyright oil substantially
'he same basis as it's own citizens. or
"hen such foreign state or nation is a
party 10 an international agreement which
PROVIDES for reciprocity in the granting
oI copyright, by the terms OF which agree
mtht Inc United States of America NAV.
DIT l'S pressure become a party 10 such
agreement As a result of the above
provision, we have reciprocal copyrish.
relations with eleven foreign govern
menis, namely, Belgium, France. Great
brltaln, and her possessions: Swltzer-
land' Germany, Italy, Denmark. Portu-
gar spain. Mexico, and Chill. The ratio
oelWesp the number Of entries for Ameri-
cans 10 those OF all foreigners is aht NJ
seven TO one. Were it not for the nrovi-
sion previously referred 10, requiring
books, photographs, chromos. and Iitno-
graphs TO be produced in this country i'm
order 10 be copyrightable. there is no
doubt but that the number of foreign en-
tries would Increase tremendously. WHAT
would be the effect upon American NH
fishers were this law repealed is a deli
cate question, and one not TO be discussed
in this short article, 1t will be remem-
bered that our Secretary of State and the
poet leaureate of England have recently
mad some interesting correspondence
through the newspapers upon this and
other phases of our copyright law.
Latest Copyright Law.
On March 3. 1897. We received from The
hands or Congress the most recent en-
actment relating 10 copyrights. II pro-
vided. among other things. for the ap-
pointment of register of copyrights.
who. under the direction Of the Librarian
OF Congress, should perform all duties re-
latmg TO q copyright Both the Librarian
OF Congress and the register OF copy
rights s:e required TO give bond IN The
amount of s.0,0oo for the faithful dis
charge of their duties, and the register
VI wy - iNS - ALi Ailti required 10 TnT-
nish monthly reports OF the fees reeeivtl
TO both the Librarian of Congress and IA
the Secretary OF the Treasury.
II is an interesting as well as significant
fact to observe, IN looking over the dates
OF the past enactments, that In six in
stances out OF the twenty-one times laws
have been passed concerning copyrights
the dates OF the passages have fallen up-
on March 3 of the odd. or short-session
years, Congress being obliged by law to
acJouru at noon the following DAY. II
would seem. therefore, that copyright les
islation has borne It's share in the (
scramble for passage so characteristic OF
the closing hours OF Congress on these /
occasions
As the law now stands. We find the
following subjects. entitled TO copyright
prctection Books, maps. charts. ora
matte and musical compositions. enrray- /
inss. cuts. prints, photographs or mega
iiVts thereof. chTomos, pair tings. draw .
mss statues statusry. and models or de- /
signs intended 10 be perfected as works
Of the fine arts
The procedure In oopyrighting the first
ter articles named consists In deuositing
IN the Library or Congress the required
Zee a separate printed title. and two
copies Of the work. In the case
Of painting, drawing. statue. or a model
OF design for : work OF the fine arts. the
law requires that there he fled a de-
together with a photograph Of
such article.
fers far Copyright.
The Zee for recording the title Of
lock or other article. the production OF
q eltizen OF the United States, Is % cents. 4