Named Entity Results
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing)

right to vend and dispose of those works in the United States for a term of years. A general bill to that effre added in 1874), permitting any citizen of the United States who shall be the author, inventor, designer, or tion was extended to others than citizens of the United States. The injustice done to foreigners by excluding Books by British authors were freely republished in America without compensation to their authors, and Americann copyright, by the terms of which agreement the United States may become a party thereto. The existence of thions shall be determined by the President of the United States and announced by proclamation. It required, howooks, etc., so copyrighted and circulated in the United States must be printed from type set in the United StatUnited States, or from plates made therefrom, or from negatives or drawings on stone which have been made in the United St the United States. The importation of foreign editions of books protected by American copyright is forbidden.

of protection was extended to others than citizens of the United States. The injustice done to foreigners by excluding them from the privileges of copyright was early apparent, and the only excuse to be offered therefor was that the laws of Great Britain permitted a similar injustice to be practised upon Americans. Literary piracy, as it was called, became common in both countries. Books by British authors were freely republished in America without compensation to their authors, and American books were likewise reproduced in England. And yet the English law was more just than the American, for it allowed a foreigner to secure British copyright, provided the work was first published within the United Kingdom, and the author was at the time of publication anywhere within the British dominions. A movement to secure the passage of some kind of international copyright law was begun in Congress as early as 1837, when Henry Clay presented a petition of British authors asking for the p

Copyright law. On April 5, 1789, Dr. David Ramsay, of South Carolina, sent a petition to Congress, setting forth that he was the author of two books—a History of South Carolina and a History of the American Revolution—and praying that body to pass a law giving him and his legal successors the exclusive right to vend and dispose of those works in the United States for a term of years. A general bill to that effect was passed in 1790; and afterwards other bills were passed, incorporating witSouth Carolina and a History of the American Revolution—and praying that body to pass a law giving him and his legal successors the exclusive right to vend and dispose of those works in the United States for a term of years. A general bill to that effect was passed in 1790; and afterwards other bills were passed, incorporating with the copyright bill another for securing patents for mechanical inventions. The term of a copyright was then fixed at fourteen years for books already published, and the same term for unpublished books, with the privilege of a renewal for fourteen years longer. In 1831 a general copyright law was passed, granting copyright for twenty-eight years, and providing for a renewal for fourteen years. In 1856 a law was passed giving to the authors of dramatic compositions the exclusive right of publi<

d in America without compensation to their authors, and American books were likewise reproduced in England. And yet the English law was more just than the American, for it allowed a foreigner to secure British copyright, provided the work was first published within the United Kingdom, and the author was at the time of publication anywhere within the British dominions. A movement to secure the passage of some kind of international copyright law was begun in Congress as early as 1837, when Henry Clay presented a petition of British authors asking for the protection of their works. This petition was favorably reported upon by the select committee to which it was referred, but no further action was taken. In 1843, George P. Putnam presented to Congress a memorial signed by many leading publishers which declared that the absence of international copyright was alike injurious to the business of publishing and to the best interests of the public. After this frequent efforts were made to

e conditions is punishable by a fine of $25. Although the first copyright law in this country was passed in 1790, it was not until a little more than 100 years later that the principle of protection was extended to others than citizens of the United States. The injustice done to foreigners by excluding them from the privileges of copyright was early apparent, and the only excuse to be offered therefor was that the laws of Great Britain permitted a similar injustice to be practised upon Americans. Literary piracy, as it was called, became common in both countries. Books by British authors were freely republished in America without compensation to their authors, and American books were likewise reproduced in England. And yet the English law was more just than the American, for it allowed a foreigner to secure British copyright, provided the work was first published within the United Kingdom, and the author was at the time of publication anywhere within the British dominions. A m

Copyright law. On April 5, 1789, Dr. David Ramsay, of South Carolina, sent a petition to Congress, setting forth that he was the author of two books—a History of South Carolina and a History of the American Revolution—and praying that body to pass a law giving him and his legal successors the exclusive right to vend and dispose of those works in the United States for a term of years. A general bill to that effect was passed in 1790; and afterwards other bills were passed, incorporating with the copyright bill another for securing patents for mechanical inventions. The term of a copyright was then fixed at fourteen years for books already published, and the same term for unpublished books, with the privilege of a renewal for fourteen years longer. In 1831 a general copyright law was passed, granting copyright for twenty-eight years, and providing for a renewal for fourteen years. In 1856 a law was passed giving to the authors of dramatic compositions the exclusive right of publi