Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-03-30
IN AIR
SOUGHT FOR NEWS
Press Agencies Ask New
Laws and Seek Mechanical
Means of Secrecy.
BY CARL III. BUTMAN.

BY CARL III. BUTMAN.
Recognizing radio as a modern
means of transmitting news, the
members of about rs press associa-
tions in Europe have taken steps
to protect their property when it is
en- route through the air. Resolu-
tions signed by such well known news
agencies as Havas of France, Conti-
mental of Germany, Fabra of Spain,
Reuters of Great Britain, Stefani of
Italy and Rosta of Russia have been
filed with the International Tele-
graphic Union at Bern. Other sug-
gestions will be submitted to the in
ternatiopal convention for the protec-
ton of Industrial property, which
meets at The Hague in October. The
news representatives also recommend
ed that each home government submit
certain propositions to the next radio
conference in Washington.
What amounts to radio censorship
is suggested, broadcast transmission
would be controlled, receiving sets
limited and many phases of radio
operation definitely regulated If the
plan is carried out internationally.
Ask Legal Protection.
Essentially the foreign press as
sociations insist on ethereal property
rights, patent protection and punish
ment when their copy is picked up
and used without permission. They
recommend that a technical means
which will prevent the reception and
use by unauthorized persons of press
matter transmitted by radio be de-
veloped, implying separate exclusive
radio channels or apparatus which in
sures secrecy. Simple methods of
ciphering and deciphering insur-
ing rapidity of handling have been
devised, and partially secret radio ap-
paratus has been perfected, but
not adopted generally. In Eu-
rope the governments control and
operate radio as theyA do prac-
tically all communication systems:
therefore, 1T might be practical pos
sibility. But in the United States,
where private companies handle COM
munications, great difficulties would
be encountered in this connection.
1t also was recommended that ma
tional governments agree not to au-
thorize the establishment or main
tenance of any private radio receiv-
ing stations until the authorities have
taken all precautions to strictly limit
the capacity of the receiving set
That is, receivers would be con-
struCted or set SO as to pick UP only
bands and not on those channels
carrying news. This sealing of sets
has been attempted in some countries
unsuccessfully. it is understood, and
certainly would be tremendous
undertaking in the United States, with
several million unlicensed receiving
sets to locate and adjust, even if 1t
became a law.
Drastic Penalties Urged
Positive legislation against viola
ton of secrecy and Illicit use OF press
matter is urged. AS penalties for the
use of authorized radio news, these
organizations desire imprisonment
confiscation and damages, as well as
forfeiture of licenses, il Illicit use is
proven. International press regula-
lions, they insist should insure pro-
lection TO press clients under uni
form laws providing for one broad
cast transmission to several sub
scEbers by collective addresses if
desired. Some countries, it was as
serted, have neither regulations nor
scruples covering property rights of
this class of message. Other nations
have no fixed rate for this class of
transmission, insisting on charging
full press rates for each ADDRESSED
included in the collective address,
is required
Reduced telegraph rates for press
matter are asked, and assurance that
delayed messages still go forward at
press rates, despite the lapse of time
fixed for press rates to apply.
Further. the signatories ask that II
broadcast concessions are made the
concessionnaires be required not to
send out political, commercial, finan-
cial or other news except that which
is submitted and filed by recognized
| news agencies. This is a curious re-
versal of the situation in the United
States, where the Associated Press
has refused to permit its news items
to be broadcast. The property value OF
press news has never been establiske ed
internationally, it is pointed out, ex-
cept that in some instances protection
after publication is afforded, which
would not benefit the news collecting
and distributing agencies. In other
countries only what are considered
literary works are protected by law.
Oppose Broadcasting.
The members of the foreign press
associations claim that radio broad
casting Is a menace to them as well
as to the public on account Of "the
ease thereby given 10 the. spread OF
uncontrolled news" This suggestion
will hardly be acceptable to the in
| terests here, where freedom of speech
is upheld and censorship is taboo even
on the air.
1t is problems of this sort which
| the conferees of the press propose to
submit to the international property
conference In this connection Secre-
| tary Hoover stated recently that he
| would refer some of the patent prob
lens of the United States to this body
possibly having in mind radio press
matter, along with other copyright
references. The European press asso-
Citations also suggest a revision of the
! existing copyright laws to include
the protection of press news used
| without authority for gain, specifying
| news of the day, political, CONNER.
| cial. economic and financial news.
How these suggestions will affec,
the news associations and the private
communication companies in this
country, as well as the broadcasters
and listeners, is unknown, but, as
American representatives will bt
present at the conferences, It is as.
sumed that all interests will be pro.
tected in the event international
| agreements are drawn up.