New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-28
FURTHER COPYRIGHT PROGRESS.

The complaint is often made. and with some
reason, that much of our modern ieglslaloh
looks 10 the protection Of property rights more
than TO the protection of limb and life. In at
least one department OF property and It's rights,
however. such complaint is assuredly not Vahd.
Despite all the progress that has been made
since the organization of the American Copy
right League literary property is still, under
the law, largely defenceless against the rapne
of piracy; and the United States, with all its
boasted civilization still suffers the humiliation
of being outranked in justice and honesty and
regard for the intellectual rights of man by
such minor States as Venezuela and Tunis and
lesser tribes without the Law"
Note, for example our treatment of the au-
thOrs OF France, Germany and Italy. If one OF
them wishes 10 have any protection for his
literary property in America he must, in ad-
vance of publication at home, have his book
translated into English and put into type in
this country, and then he must publish 1t here
simultaneously with its publication in his own
country. Upon the face of the case, for the
great majority of European books these condi-
tons are practically prohibltive. Yet if they
are not complied with the authors property
rights are forfeited and the product of his brain
is the defencelesS spoil of whatever pirate may
coyet ii.
Now il is proposed TO ameliOrate the authors
lot in some slight degree by giving him pro-
visiOnal year OF grace in which to secure copy
right in America. That IS 10 say, he need not
publish his book here in advance of or stimuli
taneously with its publication at home, but may
do so at any time within twelve months there
after. That right will not, however, be absolute,
but will be conditioned upon the neglect or fail
ure of any pirate in this country TO steal his
book and copyright it here ahead of him. II
any pirate does thus forestall him. the author
viii be without redress. But If not, If nobody
here considers the book worth stealing until the
author himself concludes IL is worth protecting
and is worth translating ard republishing here,
then he may secure copyright and have for
limited term Of years enjoyment Of the profits
Of his own creation.
This proposed amendment 10 our copyright
law is certainly moderate. In our opinion, it
does not go far enough. We shall not be salts
fed until literary property is made as secure as
any other property But as step, and con-
siderable step in the right direction il IS cordial
ly TO be commended, and its enactment is TO be
urged by all who have at heart the repute OF
America for honest dealing and the best inter
ests Of American literature and the American
publishing trade. The amendment has been
favorably reported to the Senate and will
doubtless be favorably reported to the House
Of Representatives and il is understood that
there is no serious opposition TO it. In such cir
cumstances it ought speedily TO be enacted
and not be lost in the shuttle among the
thirteen thousand other bills already introduced
Among the thirteen thousand there are prob
ably not thirteen that more deserve or more
need 10 be enacted than this.