New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-18
PLANS FOR COPYRIGHT
General Principles only Determined
at Conference.

Washington, March IA statement was is
sued to-day by Herbert Putnam. Librarian Of
Congress. as 10 the work Of the copyright con-
ference which has been in session in Washing
TON this week II quotes from the President
message on the subject. refers 70 former meet
ings and TO the work Of this conference, out
does not present its results in any formulated
hin 20 10 presented 10 Congress Such a meas
ure is 10 be prepared and submitted TO the va
rious organizations which participated in the
conference and when approved hy them viii be
introduced in Congress Mr. Putnam says
The three conferences have been notable III
many respects, but particularly in the NUMBER
Of organizsu tons participating. in their repre-
sentative character, in the temper Of the con
ference and in the desire to be candid ana the
disposition 10 he fair" He goes on:
The conferences could not themselves frame
. bill. This had not been expected Of then- lts
most that had been hoped Of them vas.
Trst-Thst they should establish some gen
eral principles. -.
Second--That they should bring forward into
proper recognition particular hardfhlps sG!leLeo
under the existing law, and appropriate meas
T6ird-That by frank expression in a body so
disposed 70 be conciiatory they should turnlsh
a practicable working basis between INTERESTS
naturally diverse. 49,.
things and accomplished them in a degree quite
extraordinary and never predicted. They nave:
for instance. established the Judgment OF
thes= groups represented certain general piln-
ciules For instance that the protection OF
copyright should initiate from puoIcat!9Ii'
This seems simple as stated. but the establish
,rent Of 1t affects in diverse WAYS the deter
raination Of innumer2ble provisions and clears
away innUmerdbls peiplextties.
Example. That the copyright in a work
should cover su the copyriEhtable matter there
IN Equally simple, as stated. but whose enun-
ciaticu cleared away many en- carrassmeI'tS
The omission Of mere fOImanyeS Should
not Of itself invaidate the copyright, even
though II should prevent recourse against innc-
cent infringement Under the present law the
deposit OF copies is not merely requirement,
but A requirement the omission OF which VIII
invalldate the copyright; and the copies must
be deposited or before the date of puohca-
ton If they are not YOUR copyright Is lost ana
you can never make II good.
The substitution Of penalties FOR invalidatton
Of copyright in any formality not indispensable
10 the protection Of the public
classes Of articles. instead OF he present uni
form term for all Probably Il ZEE groups, with
three terms corresponding, the longest term,
however 10 insure that no author shall within
his lifetime he deprived Of the benefit Of his
copyrights nor shall his immediate family be 50
deprived.
Another example: That in the simplifcation
Conceded TO be just) Of the copyright notice
some notice sufficiently identifying the object
with the record must be retained.
The proposals Of the conference, embodying
also its decisions viii therefore appear in the
bill, which is yet 10 he drafted This bill will
take some time 10 draft. and will not he intro
participants. All. therefore. that can be pub
lished now Is this indication Of the charaC-
ter If what the conferences have been and what
their purpose was.