New-York tribune., 1906-06-01
COPYRIGHT BILL IN.
Measure Prepared by Commission
Introduced a Both Houses.

Washington. May SL-Senator Kittredge Of
South Dakota, and Representative Currier Of New
Hampshire. introduced to-day in the Senate and
House. respectively. the copyright bill which has
been compiled by the Copyright Commission under
the direction of Herbert Putnam. Librarian of
Congress. The bill is intended 30 be oomplete
re-ensctment OF the copyright laws with many
changes 10 make them more nearly applicable TO
the needs of the present time.
Extensive hearings on the measure are 10 be
given by the Patent committees of the two houses.
sitting jointly IN the Office Of Librarian Putnam.
The first hearing win be at 10 o'clock on "Wednesday
morning. The hearings are 10 be public
As explained by Librarian Putnam, the bill con-
tains these leadings features:
II makes copyright protection date from the pub
lication Of the work with the notice Of copyright
affixed Registration in the copyright Office is stin
compulsory, but may be made within thirty days
after publication or in case Of accidental onis-
sion within year. but after the thirty days no
action can be brought for infringement until 1t is
made The registration consists OF a deposit Of
copies with claim OF copyright
The notice Of copyright is simpliied 1t must
include the name Of the copyright proprietor and
the word copyright the abbreviation ''copr.."
or In the case OF works Of art, or certain other
works not ordinary books periodicals. merely Of
the letter within circle and in the case of such
works the initials. monogram, mark or symbol Of
the copyright proprietor may be substituted for his
name provided that his name shall appear on some
The manufacturing clause is continued. but
with the omission of Photographic negatives. so
that American photographer may obtain copy
right here & photograph taken by him abroad
The bill is extended 10 include the texts OF books
produced by Hthographic process and also the Illus
trations. except where the objects represented are
located IN a foreign country. In the case Of books
and periodicals affidavit is required that the
manufacturing clauses have been complied with
The privilege of obtaining American copyright Is
sarnr nV1d
is also extended TO cases where he is living IN
the United States the time os first publication or
where he first contemporaneously publishes the
work IN the United States.
The privilege OF importation OF foreign editions
Of q work copyrighted the United States is con
tinued with minor notifications
The works for which copyright may be secured
are defined TO be 'all the works OF an author
Among the designated classes In the registration
are two groups not heretofore mentioned-oral
lectures and drawings or plastic works OF a scien-
tihc or technical nature There is a class works
In the case OF musical composition specific pro
adapted 10 reproduce 10 the ear such cornposi-
The bill provides for graduated term consisting
OF twenty-eght years or fifty years or the hteuLne
pendent the subject matter The term OF TWEEN
yeght years Is Iof aoeT e h1 Tenn of y Vsars rs
applies 10 composite works of art or publcau1ns
ana nifty years after death-apples only TO orig
inal works.
Any wiIful infringement of the proposed act for
profit is made q misdemeanor. The existing law
provides this in the case OF such nfringements OF
dramatic OF musical compositions; the bill extends
il all such infringements. wilful and for profit
AS remedies. the bill provides for an intunc-
and for the recovery Of profits and damages
also for the impounding and destruction OF the
infringing copies themselves and the devices and
appliances for producing them.
The bill keeps distinct the copyright from the
property in the material object which is the sub
ject OF copyright and also the rights such as ne
right Of translation etc II provides that the
copyright OF a work Of art shall remain in the
author spite of The sale OF the work, unless ex-
pressly assigned by him
The present fee for registration is 90 cents for
American claimants and 81 for foreign An add
tional 50 IS charged for the certificate when
furnished The bill provides that certificate shall
be furnished in all cases as a matter OF course
and il stipulates uniform fee OF 81 which SHAH
include the certificate. 1t relieves the applicant
from multiple fees In the case of several volumes
OF the same book periodical deposited at the
same time OF numbered series Of reproduc-
tons Photographic prints. pictorial illustrations.