The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20
AUSTRALIANS ASK
FAIR COPYRIGHTS
Authors Charge That Present
Laws Work to Advantage
of Americans.
Special Correspondence to the Far Eastern
Section Of The Sun.

Special Correspondence to the Far Eastern
Section Of The Sun.
SYDNEY. Australia, July 12.--Aus-
tralian editors and writer's have started
a campaign for n modification OF the
copyright agreement between Australia
and the United States, charging that the
present laws work to the advantage OF
the American writer's in British possess
sions and against the Australians when
they desire to publish their works in
the United States. AS viewed here the
authors see little or no reciprocity In
the existing agreement and urge the
Modification to give them greater OPP
portunity for publication abroad with
protection for their work.
The manufacturing clause in the pres
ent agreement with the United States is
the objectional section. The Australian
authors put their case briefly as follows
The American author can secure protec-
ton for his book or books throughout
British territory by the simple expedient
OF having one copy sold at one British
counter. The British author-that in
cludes the Australian-before he can
gain a copyright in the United States
not only must have his work set up.
printed and published. but this must be
done within a certain time limit in the
United States. It is charged that the
time limit imposes an almost insuper-
able handicap on the original publish
Crs.
c. ]. Dennis, creator Of 1.-THE Senti-
mental Bloke" and other Australian
| celebrities are leading the fight here and
! has enlisted the aid of William Morris
Hughes. the Australian Premier In
presenting the case to the Premier Mr.
Dennis wrote:
Ill .,.NH, ri tou
Of your intention to introduce a bill
reciprocating the United States manu-
featuring law in the present copyright
| az reement No other course is likely to
bring about a settlement in our lifetime
American Books Everywhere.
"Foreign authors were unable to Sc
cure a copyright in the United States
until 1891, and were glad to accept any
sort of protection, however negotiable
against the pirate publisher. At that
! time the United States had few authors
worth the attention of the British pi-
rate publisher, but II Is different now
as a glance of our bookshops will show.
American books are everywhere. Indeed
In 1891 the value of Amercan literary
property here bore very much the same
relation to the British that the Aus
tralian literary property now does to
the American.
THE United States never will volun-
tarily remove this injustice. and nego-
tiation would not bring about settle
ment in the lifetime of any living Aus
tralian author. But II the Common
wealth Parliament passed an act re-
stricting the United States authors copy
right here in the way the United States
restricts us there a satisfactory settle
ment would probably be arrived at
within twelve months. At any rate
until Congress gave redress we should
have the satisfaction of knowing that
what's sauce for the Australian goose
is sauce for the American gander."
The Sydney Morning Herald in COM
menting on the campaign of the authors
and the present situation says edito-
rally:
"One does not need to be very old TO
remember how British authors suffered
from the enterprising literary pirates In
America, mushroom publishers who
brought out contemporary successes In
cheap editions-as well they might with
no royalties to pay-and spoiled the
! overseas market for such writer's as
Stevenson and Henley. The unfairness
OF the present American copyright law
has been admitted by American publish
ers. who nevertheless continue to pront
by its provisions. They claim that they
cannot remedy the injustice and that
! for this discrimination not they. but the
| labor unions. are responsible.