Copyright: Its History and Its LawBowker, R. R. (Richard Rogers)
History
Copyright: Its History and Its Law
Bowker, R. R. (Richard Rogers)
Copyright -- History; Copyright -- United States -- History
It is specifically provided (sec. 41) that copyright is distinct from
the property in the material object, which accomplishes for the artist
the important result that when he sells his painting he does not
transfer the copyright, but retains that for himself unless he
specifically contracts with the buyer to include in the sale the
copyright or the right to copyright. This adopts into the law the
decision of the courts that copyright does not pass with a painting
unless distinctly included in the transfer. The provision (sec. 41) is
specific that the copyright "is distinct from the property in the
material object copyrighted, and the sale or conveyance, by gift or
otherwise, of the material object shall not of itself constitute a
transfer of the copyright, nor shall the assignment of the copyright
constitute a transfer of the title to the material object." Thus the
author of a work of art has two separate properties, the painting,
statue or other work in itself, on the one hand, and the copyright or
the right to copyright on the other, neither of which is transferred by
the transfer of the other unless both are specifically included in the
transfer.
{Sidenote: Manufacturing clause covers lithographs and photo-engravings}
{Sidenote: Foreign subjects excepted}
The copyright in certain classes of reproductions of works of art is
dependent however on manufacture in this country, as in the case of
books. This provision no longer includes photographs as in the preceding
law, but is confined specifically (sec. 15) to "text produced by
lithographic process, or photo-engraving process," "illustrations within
a book consisting of printed text and illustrations produced by
lithographic process, or photo-engraving process, and also to separate
lithographs or photo-engravings, except where in either case the
subjects represented are located in a foreign country and illustrate a
scientific work or reproduce a work of art." It is further provided
that "in the case of the book ... if the text be produced by
lithographic process, or photo-engraving process ... the copies so
deposited shall be accompanied by an affidavit ... that such process was
wholly performed within the limits of the United States." This
affidavit, therefore, is not required in the case of separate
lithographs or photo-engravings. The manufacturing provisions chiefly
concern the publishers of books, but they imply that artists cannot send
works abroad to have reproductions made. But by the opinion of January
9, 1911, approved by the Attorney-General, a design, drawing, or
painting made and located abroad intended as "the first step" for
lithographic reproduction, may be registered, if a "work of art"--which
question of fact is to be determined by the Register of Copyrights; and
such lithographic reproductions of it may be imported.
{Sidenote: German post cards}
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account