New-York tribune., 1900-07-10
COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
PROBABLE SETTLEMENT OF THE CANA
DIAN CONTROvERsY-AN INGENIOUS
COMPROMISE HELPFUL TO
AMERICA.
AMERICA
London. June 81.

London. June 81.
INC Canadian copyright controversy IS Eow in
8 fair way 70 be settled 70 the satisfaction OF
suthors. publishers imperial officials colonial
legislators and Berne doEmatists. This is
miracle of grace which would have seemed ba
vond the possibilities Of practical exnertenoa =
few years ago but Il has been brought a,orr
naturally enough by the good sense and clear
intelligence Of Canadian printers and legislators
The amended copyright bill. which is in the
fnal stage Of legislation al Ottawa. has been
carefully scrutinized by the Colonial Onice here
ny The Lords Committee. by the Authors. So
ois-y and by the leading publishers: and. so far
IS can learn. there is no opposition TO IL r
has beer atrottly drawn so as to propitiate the
copyright oracles and 10 disarm imperial quib-
ble-s and Il Is likely 70 receive the sanction 20
The Queen when IL has been carried through the
Dominion Parliament. II is essentially 2 Cana
dian compromise, although I suspect that
quick wirted Toronto publisher. Mr George \
M0rang who was born in the State OF Maine.
has brought 10 bear upon il Down Fast
Yankee talent for ingenuity, and certainly he
has eIe-ted great influence here. in conjunction
with Professor Mavo, in explaining the amended
project 70 the Lords Committee the Colonial
otFa=. The English authors and the London nub-
Ishe-s He VIII be entitled to a large share OF
the credit for settling complex and trouble
some question Il the arrangements now IN prog
ress are comDleted.
The Canadian Copyright set which was
passed after the adoption OF the present com
promise system in the United States with the
rlza-tactuTing clause was strongly opposed BY
E---tsh authors and publishers and royal as
ser withheld. The Contemporary Re
published in 1894 a series Of vigorous
s- zs by Mr. Hall Game, Mr.. Lecky. Mr Rider
-ard. M John Murray and AIessrs Mac
milan & Co, demonstrating against the act as
a. INVASION Of the property rights Of authors
and IS & betrayal OF the principles Of the Berne
Convention L was described as an attempt TO
legts,ate so as 10 give British authors copyright
n Canada for Iwenty-eight years, If they should
reprint and republish the work in the Dominion
within one month OF its original publication.
Z -hls were not done within the month the
Canadian Government was authorized 10 grant
70 any applicant q license 10 print al edition
without the authors consent on an agreement
vt-h The Minister Of Agriculture 70 pay Il roy
aI-- q 10 per cent on the retail price. Objec-
tious were raised BY the Copyright Association,
the Incorporated Society OF Authors, the Print
Sellers Association and various sections Of the |
London Chamber OF Commerce, representing
printing. photography and the allied trades.
From The authors point Of view the act was
unjust. because II deprived him Of control over
his work and offered no safeguards for the col
lection or payment OF royalties. whether on
copies sold OF copies printed From uncompro-
missing advocates oS the Berne principles came
the protest that -h@ proposed legislation under
mined The general recognition Of copyright prop
cry. which had become wellnjgh universal in
Europe