New-York tribune., 1900-07-10

does not arm Canadian printers with the privt-
lege Of publishing q book without the authors
consent and OF paying him royalty Of 10 per
cent, arbitrarily fixed by law. without safe
guards for collection or scrutiny of accounts.
Il leaves the author al liberty to make his own
contract for q Canadian edition and to consent
in advance TO the exclusion from the Dominion
Of all other editions OF the work. It also pro
vtdes safeguards for the production Of the book
under license within reasonable time, and for
the repeal Of the exclusive privileges obtained
by the printer whenever there is evidence that
he is not acting in good faith and either with
holding the work from publication OF printing it
in an unsuitable form The new acr, from the
authors point Of view. is entirely un05jectton-
able, and the compromise is q satisfactory one
At the same time the strictest disciples II the
Berne school cannot complain that The inherent
principle Of copyright is violated. and there is
no ground for objection from the most dogmatic
imperiaIist Of the Colonial Office. Copyright re-
mains a uniform British possession that holds
good for the Empire License 10 print q LEGAL
edition with the authors consent Is a subsidiary
colonial privilege.
THE BRITISH PUBLISHER RECONCuED
The British publisher is reconciIed 10 this
compromise. because the manufacturing clause
provides for printing. bat not for cypeserring
and thereby ena bles MIN 10 sell TO the Canadian
cannot sell his edition in Canada he can
drive a bargain with the printer over the plates.
and in this way make something out of the
Canadian edition IN practice, however the
Canadian publishers are likely 10 purchase their
plates at the nearest uarkets-New-York Chi
cago or BOsCon-and they will not be under oh
legation TO deal with the British publisher 7 do
not perceive that the American publishing trade
has any reason TO complain Of the new
Canadian act when it viii lead 10 the purchase
Of plates in New-York and other cities The
Canadian edition cannot be sold in America. and
both the British and American editions viii be
excluded on equal terms from Canada when
ever the local license is granted.
It will be great advantage for the American
trade 10 have the Canadian copyright question
settled with g compromise resembling the one
now in force in the United States. a printers
license without typesetting is a different thing
from the manufacturers clause, with the
troublesome requirement of simultaneous publ
cation from the type; but It is q variation from
the Berne system, and TO q certain extent justt-
hes the American departure from the approved
European method Of dealing with authors prop
erty. When the Imperial Government sanctions
the Canadian act, as il is well nigh certain to
do il viii be easier for the American Copyright
League 10 defend modification OF the system
rendered necessary for the protection Of Arneri-
can printers NOBODY assumes that the ArnerI-
can copyright conditions are in any sense ideal
but these are the best which are now obtain
able. and few publishers are anxious To have
the subject reopened in Congress. The enact
Hent Of the Canadian Copyright bill with its
singularly adrOir compromise, and the assent
OF the British Government to its provisions win
close troublesome controversy and justify the
maintenance OF the copyright arrangements now
existing in the United States. / \. F.