The Copyright Question: A Letter to the Toronto Board of TradeMorang, George N. (George Nathaniel)
History
The Copyright Question: A Letter to the Toronto Board of Trade
Morang, George N. (George Nathaniel)
Copyright -- Canada; Copyright, International
"In turning to the conditions of copyright in the United States, Mr.
Thomas stated that prior to 1891 there was no protection for British
authors there, and his books were pirated at will. The result was so
disastrously manifest that a conference was held, and an Act was
passed giving them protection. That Uncle Samuel had both eyes open
when the Act was passed and the agreement made, was shown when Mr.
Thomas stated that one condition upon which the British author was
given protection was that the book be printed and made in the United
States, and that it be published prior to or simultaneously with
foreign publication. This action of the Americans was contrasted with
that of the British, who, while they demand the making and publication
of a book in Britain to ensure the protection of copyright, yet
construe the Act so as to allow it to be possible to have the book
made in the United States and then have a sample sent to Stationers'
Hall, London, which sending allows the work to be entered as published
in England. Mr. Thomas said that the United States was the best book
market in the world. He pointed out that the Americans, being aware of
this, compelled the outside authors to have their books published in
the United States. Mr. Thomas was applauded when he said: 'There is
not a single book made outside the United States as a result of this
Act, for if you wish to secure the American copyright you have to have
your book made there. What is sauce for the goose is not sauce for the
gander, for we do not compel books to be published here in order to
secure the British and Canadian copyright.'"
There is no foundation for these statements of Mr. Thomas in regard to the
action of the United States. The Imperial authorities gave no concession
to secure the passage of the Chace Bill, made no change in British
Copyright Laws, entered into no agreement, and Uncle Sam played no sharp
trick upon the unsuspecting Englishman. All this is pure fiction. What
really happened was this, and it may be easily verified by reference to an
English Blue Book, published in 1891, containing the correspondence
relating to the "United States Copyright Act." The Act of Congress was
passed in March, 1891. On the 27th of May, 1891, the American Ambassador
at London wrote to Lord Salisbury, then Foreign Secretary, enclosing a
copy of the Act of Congress, and pointing out that the benefits of the
Statute only extended to citizens of foreign countries after the
President's proclamation had been issued under conditions specified in the
Act. On the 16th of June, 1891, Lord Salisbury wrote the American
Ambassador as follows:--
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account