Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-29
COPYRIGHT CONVENTION OF BERLIN

ish delegation opposed because signed
articles were the exception in the United
Kingdom and the provision might prove
inconvenient in the case OF quotations
from the continental press.
The prohibition Of the complete repro
duction OF political articles Is not In
tended to prevent newspapers from MAX
ing fair quotations from such articles
or from publishing resumes of the opinion
of the press of all countries.
The French delegates proposed that
throughout the states of the union there
should be one general term OF protection.
namely: the life of the author and fifty
years after his death. This proposal not
having been inserted in the preliminary
document and the British delegates not
having had time to confer with those
interested. the convention gave Its ad-
hesion as whole on condition that
until each state chose to alter its legis-
latfon in the proposed sense the term OF
copyright should continue in each country
to be that prescribed by its existing
laws.
Italy was willing to vote for the French
proposition. while Germany would prob
ably do likewise when Great Britain
would agree to extend her term. The
copyright commission of 1873 suggested
that the life of the author and fifty years
thereafter was an ideal protection. This
proposition was made at time when
not even the Berne convention had shown
that such unanimity was possible.
The London Times. commenting upon
the acts of the convention. regrets that
the delegates did not protect general
news, while in reproducing articles on
political subjects the newspaper was held
to mention the name and source OF In
formation. 1T Is difficult to see.' II
says. 1.-The justice of such provisions.
Why should a book by great political
writer such Lord Morley enjoy pro-
lection and not an article of a similar
character in a newspaper signed by him?
Why, too, should news collected at great
expense from the ends of the earth be
placed at the disposal Of the civilized
world without payment and without any
except the difficulty Of putting the pro-
lection in force
The Times expresses the conviction that
the convention should have accepted the
French proposal. fifty
Post-Mortem years after death being
Protection. none too long 1t re-
calls that the fruit Of a
serious authors labors Is in the majority
of cases not produced till toward the
end Of life. while at the same time the
production of such works often brings
back into notice and gives q commercial
value to the same mans early writings.
why should publisher" asks the
Times. ''be allowed to reprint these early
writings for his own profit at an earlier
date than he may reprint the late writ
ings?
I'VE can understand that many of the
modern type of publishers who live by
cheap reprints and who do not like
paying royalties might dislike the pro-
posed extension, but. after all, there Is
another point Of view. that Of the pro-
Queer and his heirs.
1T seems a pity that a convention
which certainly goes far to simplify the
existing state of things should not have
been completed by an agreement on this
important point"
The convention was attended not only
by authors. book publ .shers and news
paper publishers. but by large number
Of distinguished officials and private citi-
zens.
The French delegation was specially
distinguished by NJ. Renault, Lecomte,
Breton, Lavisse, the historian: Paul Her.
| vieu, president OF the Society of Authors
and Dramatic Composers" all of whom
took an active and notable part in
the proceedings, which were enlivened
by eloquent and witty speeches. The
German, Belgian and Italian delegations
were represented by Drs. Dungs, Gobel,
Osterrieh and Herr Robalsy NJ Borch-
grade and Warwermans, and the Italian
ambassador, Senator PanSa and NJ. Far
rari.
It remains to be seen, in July, 1910. the
date fixed for the final ratification of
the provisions, whether any or all OF
them will be accepted by the respective
parliaments Of the states.
X +
In the meantime there is evidence that
Germany and England will adopt the
principle of protection of
Distinguished copyright during the au-
... thors life and fifty years
after death, q principle
which is not new, having been advocated
many years ago in England by Gladstone,
Carlyle and a number of British authors.
Italy is actually introducing a bill to
adopt 1t.
The copyright law of the United States
is local and not International and is
contained in sections 1852 and 1853 Of
the Statutes at Large, the amendatory
act of March 3, 1905, which says:
Copyrights shall be granted for the
term of twenty-eight years from the time
of recording the title thereof in the man
ner directed"
The author, inventor or designer, if he
be still living, or his widow or children
if he be dead, shall have the same ex-
elusive rights continued for the further
term of fourteen years upon recording the
title second time, etc.
The first legislation relating to copy
rights in the United States dates from
May 2. 1888, In resolution passed by
the Colonial Congress, recommending the
several states to secure to the authors or
publishers of new books the copyright of
such books.
On the report Of committee consisting
of Mr.. Williamson, Mr.. lizard and Mr..
Madison FRIDAY, May 2, 1883 1t was rec
commended to 1.-The several states to secure
the authors or publishers of any new
books not hitherto printed, being citizens
of the United States the copyright of such
books for a certain time not less than
fourteen years from the first publication"
These recommendations to the states
were acted upon In turn by the original
states. First, by Connecticut in 1888 and
in the same year by Massachusetts,.
Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire
Rhode Island; in 1854 Pennsylvania and
South Carolina; in 1855 Virginia and
North Carolina; in 1856 Georgia and New
York.
The original copyright act was passed
at the second session of the First Con-
gress of the United States. May 81. 1880
and was entitled: An act for the encour-
agement of learning by securing the
copies of maps, charts and books to the
authors and proprietors of such copies
during the times therein mentioned =" the
terms Of protection being fourteen years
from the registration of the title.
The first treaties made by the United