Evening star., 1928-05-31
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

author for term of years. In some
countries that right continues all his
life and certain number OF wears
after the author dies. Why wish II
onto poor plagiarism
%*
One phase OF the new copyright
scheme is that it is proposed to cover
radio broadcasting and even oral
speeches. Senator Helms speeches de-
scribing the horrors Of the coming Of
this new Roman invasion of America
would be copyrightable, even II imprint
able. No newspaper, nor even the Con.
gressional Record could publish them
in detail and even reciting them orally
would be punishable. All the remarks
OF Xantippe would be protected. as well
as those few words OF Mrs. Claude.
when she rehearsed her haranRues TO
the accompaniment of Mr.. Claudle's
snores, until she got the curtain sur-
gesting title. Oral copyright would
include the singing OF new song-even
about bananas The main hope in the
peril OF oral copyright lies in our consti-
tutional protection against ex post
facto laws, for Congress has adjourned,
80 we shall have no more shivering ora
tory and the eioquence OF Mines Kan
poste facto provision. Safel
*&*
There are plagiarists who contend
that they are privileged TO steal other
authors ideas. II they recast the Ian
guage bit. But that sort OF plagiarism
will be cut out under the proposed in
ternatfonAl reforms.
Noah Webster complained about the
stealing Of his ideas by Algers Murray
Dictionary. Discussing the use OF "a
and "an." Noah Webster cites:
He bore him In the thickest troop
AS doth lion In a herd of neat"
Think Of stealing such a rhyme!
Rhyming troop" with "neati" Noah
comments: Here a. limits the sense
OF the word 'lion,' but does not specify
ahy particular one. AS any lion does
or would do in any herd. Borrowed. !"
While Moan failed TO specify, the
complaining Yankee must have used
eagle" and the Brit!sher changed IL TO
''liDn." thinking he could get away with
his pIagiarism-just like modern Jour-
nalists fiiching ideas and camoufiaging
them with slight changes OF words or
animals. Now II that Roman confer
BAA@t&ABs
placing lions In the way of the eagles.
Otherwise, II becomes doubly important
that Secretary Kellogg should hurry I'D
his Anglo American peace pact.
The fundamental principle Of protect
ing authors Is TO protect ideas not
merely their phraseology. Webster and
Murray agree I'm principle" and sub.
stituting a quadrupcd In place of the
American bird win not be tolerated
under the new copyright law. The
eagle win twist that leonine tail, until
Noah Webster win turn over In his
grave and laugh
Four years ago, The League OF Nations
discussed the question of improving in-
ternational copyright law. Finland pro-
tested that the proposed innovations
presented many complications, The pro-
test included the following;
For instance an Ec0nomiat's ideas
may have great economic Importance
A new and brilliant idea regarding the
monetary system, the regulation OF
credit, etc, may give fresh impetus 10
economic life. Yet the economist can
have no claim upon the persons who
benefit by his idea"
An example might have been taken
OF the "t6 TO /" plan of the nineties, or
even of the McNary~Ha1gen scheme~~~so
similar-~-to make America prosperous by
increasing the cost OF onions, etc. Sup
pose those ideas had been copyrightedl
who would be the richer?
The peril from Rome indeed looks ap-
palling, with Senator IIefiin 20 miles
! away and Congress adjourned, It's
enough to make Sheridan's bronze
statue gailop THAT conference may
yet copyright the McNaTy~ ~Haugen new
and brilliant idea regarding the none.
tary system" for that is not eK post
| fael0. not yeta~but there Is no danger
nov az 10 the 10 To - regulation Of
credit, etc" n Ia, In "fael0" behind even
the anarter-nlIe post"
fgspsriAhi leas ". Paul v. esiliesl