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Senator THOMAS of Utah. Mr. Melcher, have you your statement prepared?

Mr. MELCHER. I have about a 5-minute statement I can make, or I can send it back to you.

Senator THOMAS of Utah. We can hear you for 5 minutes, Mr. Melcher. Then, if you have a statement, you may also submit that. STATEMENT OF FREDERICK G. MELCHER, PRESIDENT OF R. R. BOWKER & CO., PUBLISHERS; CHAIRMAN OF THE COPYRIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE BOOK PUBLISHERS BUREAU OF NEW YORK CITY

Mr. MELCHER. My name is Frederick G. Melcher, president of R. R. Bowker & Co., publishers, chairman of the copyright committee of the Book Publishers Bureau, a national association of general trade book publishers, which has steadily sought to help in perfecting the American situation in the protecting and handling of literary property both at home and abroad.

I should like to make this brief statement, and to file more detailed analyses of the proposed program as it affects book publishing, past and present.

Book publishers see many cogent reasons for early action. Our books are being infringed around the world more flagrantly than at any other time in the exactly 50 years since President Harrison signed our first international code.

I have here current reports from the houses of McMillan, McGraw & Hill, Lippincott & Appleton, showing the appearance in Brazil of Shanghai photographic reprints of their copyright works. Again, we are constantly being reminded by those with whom we do business in other countries of the same language that we could improve our relations with them and thereby better trading possibilities in books. Still again we believe that we must be prepared for a larger part in the exploiting of American literary property, which has begun to go on increasingly, and which is now beginning to affect manufactured books. We note also that any revision made now would have the full benefit of the several recent and thorough studies of copyright. However, with all these circumstances in mind, book publishers find that they are lacking a clear picture as to what can be the beneficial effect of the proposed treaties at this time, when so many countries with whom we are accustomed to have cultural relations are antagonistic or submerged, and where only one important Latin American country is a Union country, and where Congress, which must make our own law harmonious, and the informed leaders who must work with them in perfecting our law, are going to be absorbed in emergency problems, which may lead to hasty and unfavorable domestic legislation. Senator THOMAS of Utah. Have you another statement? Mr. MELCHER. I will send that.

Senator THOMAS of Utan. You will prepare that?

(The formal statement subsequently presented by Mr. Melcher is as follows:)

BOOK PUBLISHERS BUREAU, INC.,
New York, N. Y., April 17, 1941.

SUBCOMMITTEE, UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS, Washington, D. C.

HONORABLE SIRS: You were kind enough, at the time of the hearing on copyright held April 15, 1941, to state that you would receive and print with the record an extension in greater detail of the opinions of book publishers on the proposal that the United States become party to the International Convention of the Copyright Union.

This statement is made by me as chairman of the copyright committee of the Book Publishers Bureau, a national association of trade-book publishers, which, together with its predecessor, the National Association of Book Publishers, has taken an active part in hearings and conferences looking toward improvement in our copyright law for the past 20 years.

At the outset, I may say that the book publishers do see many cogent reasons for action to protect, internationally, copyrightable material created by American authors, composers, and artists. Their works, and particularly their books, are being infringed throughout the world more flagrantly than at anytime in the 50 years since President Harrison signed the first code which gave our authors protection abroad, and foreign authors protection here.

I have received current reports from four prominent publishing_houses-the Macmillan Co., MeGraw-Hill Book Co., J. B. Lippincott Co., and D. AppletonCentury Co.-stating that photographic reprints of works copyrighted by them in the United States have appeared in Brazil and Shanghai. Reports received for many years past show that like pirating of the work of American authors has taken place in Europe, eastern Asia, and South America, and that these pirated editions have been extensively exported to other countries. Notorious in this respect is Japan, which in recent years has been a flagrant transgressor of the recognized rights of the owners of copyrighted works, in spite of its adherence to the Berne Convention.

We appreciate also that the entry of the United States into an international copyright convention, as it has done with respect to so many other international agreements, would be a friendly gesture at this time toward other nations, with whom our chief interchange in cultural fields has been books. Particularly is this true, in view of the fact that books published and manufactured in this country have played an increasing part in our export trade, and it might seem foresighted to perfect the provisions for international relations as preparation for the years ahead, when the United States may play a larger part than at present in the international exchange of creative materials. However, notwithstanding all these circumstances, which the publishers bear clearly in mind, they believe that there are cogent and weightier reasons why this country should not at the present become adherent to any international convention or union.

In the first place, even if no other reason existed why we should not at this time consider such a convention or union, the chaotic world conditions affecting copyrights, as well as many other international relations, seem sufficient reason to stamp this as a most inopportune time for the United States to become party to an international convention.

With deep respect for your committee, it is difficult to understand how, at this time, one can reach the conclusion that any international convention will be respected by any of the continental countries in which copyrightable material has been published in the past, and it is equally hard to conceive, in view of the nature and policies of the governments which now rule the majority of the nations of the continent, that there is any chance that such an international convention can arrive at a code satisfactory to American ideals of intellectual freedom and respect for the intellectual products of thinking men.

It seems, further, that to enter into an international convention, when of all the South American countries, but two have adhered to the Bern Convention, might well be viewed by many other South American countries as a step away from a better understanding with the South American countries. This would be a most unfortunate occurrence, inasmuch as we are now making every effort to bring ourselves into closer relations with all the countries of the Western Hemisphere. Furthermore, it is submitted that before the United States should become party to any International Convention of the Copyright Union, it should revise its

copyright law so that its provisions may be consonant with those required for entry into such a convention. As the committee undoubtedly knows, a strong and unprejudiced effort was made more than a year ago to have all the industries and parties interested in copyright present suggestions for such a revision of the copyright act, and while these efforts were most seriously ahd honestly made, there were left unsettled several basic differences among these interests which affect all users of copyright material, which should be ironed out in advance of the United States becoming party to any convention or union with respect to copyright.

As one who was present at most of the meetings in which these efforts were made, I can state that these basic differences must, as a practical matter, be settled before any consideration can be given to the joining of a convention or union. I cannot believe that hasty action, which will not reflect the changes in the uses of copyrightable material, or the greatly extended scope of such use since the enactment of the 1909 law, can benefit any one or lead to any result other than further confusion and harm. And, in my opinion, these fundamental differences cannot be ironed out during this time of stress and constantly increasing conflicts of interests.

For the foregoing reasons, we respectfully submit that no action should now be taken to make the United States a party to the International Convention of the Copyright Union.

Respectfully submitted.

FREDERIC G. MELCHER, Chairman of the Copyright Committee of the Book Publish、rs Bureau. Senator THOMAS of Utah. Mrs. Ware, you have a statement, which will be received.

(Dr. Edith E. Ware submitted the following statement for the record:)

STATEMENT OF DR. EDITH E. WARE, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE STUDY OF COPYRIGHT, APRIL 15, 1941

To Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Bern Convention.

Mr. CHAIRMAN: It is gratifying to be able to speak at a hearing that is asking for testimony in favor of the Bern Convention.

In regard to the policy of adhering to the Bern Convention, I should like to voice the conviction that membership in an International Union for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property is today more important to the United States than it has ever been.

In the first place, there would be immediate benefits to our inter-American relations. Through membership in the Bern Union the misunderstandings and unfortunate situations between the United States and Brazil matters resulting from the lack of reciprocal automatic international copyright protection would be eliminated; and the way would be opened for improving similar relations with Uruguay and Argentina. This is important because every improvement in relations in the Western Hemisphere is a contribution to the solidarity that is part of our defense against hostile powers, as well as essential to a cooperative peace among American States. Since further progress in this direction is necessary, that progress will be advanced if we enter into this cooperative relationship with those states that are now prepared to remove copyright barriers to cultural and economic interchange.

Secondly, through membership in the Bern Convention we would be associating ourselves with Britain and the Commonwealth of Nations, lessening areas of dissatisfaction between them and us, and affirming by action our professed belief in international collaboration with them for mutual benefit.

Then, for very selfish reasons, we need the provisions of the Berne Convention to protect our authors and publishers from wholesale piracy and from discriminations that are alien to international cooperation designed to protect intellectual rights. Since Nazi and Fascist policy is opposed to all international association of a democratic character, we need to lend all possible support to every such association for the benefit of all cooperating democratic states and for the strengthening of democratic relations between nations.

And, finally, if we believe, as we must, that the present domination of Europe by aggressor nations must be brought to an end, then we are aware of problems of reconstruction that lie ahead. Whatever the details of that reconstruction, it is clear that every international cooperative agreement designed for mutual benefit that can be utilized will be an important factor in the building of a democratic international world. And because such a world cannot be achieved without active participation of the United States, it becomes obvious that every progress in this direction now will make the post-war process that much easier. Thus, because cooperative action on many fronts is going to be the sine quo non of a better world than the world of force that we are facing, it appears to be important that the United States adhere to the Bern Convention now.

Senator THOMAS of Utah. I have here a statement from Dr. M. L. Raney, director of the university libraries of the University of Chicago, which may be put in the record.

(The statement referred to is as follows:)

STATEMENT OF M. L. RANEY, DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

To the Senate Subcommittee, Committee on Foreign Relations:

Whether the United States shall join the International Copyright Union is one question but whether by its practices it shall remain disqualified for admission is quite another. We are so disqualified and the disqualification goes back to a blunder we made at the very beginning, in 1790. That blunder has cost us dearly in world esteem. Charles Dickens, for example, visited America_twice to shame us for it. In and out of Congress campaign after campaign from Henry Clay onward has been conducted to repair that blunder, but every time it snags on a vested interest and the decent thing stays undone.

It is not the fault of the Constitution. That could not be improved uponexclusive right to the author for a term, as likewise to the inventor. Author and inventor entered Congress in the same bill but got separated in enactment. Copyright went one way; patents, another. Anybody could patent, and how we have prospered from that gesture. Bui to the writings of residents only would we accord legal protection. The rest could be stolen. And for a century we stole right and left, while American literature languished. Why purchase manuscripts here if the lush output of the Victorian era could be pirated?

At length the public conscience revolted at this sordid business, and came the act of 1891, but all that act did was to replace the requirement of American residence with one of American manufacture. The foreign author need not come here to live in order to have the sanctity of his text respected in law, but unless he had it printed here American publishers could continue to rob him. It was as if the thief of your watch could go scot free if it were found to have a Swiss movement.

And there, save for removing, in the act of 1909, the requirement of American manufacture from foreign language publications, we still stand a Nation that legalizes the piracy of any work in English unless it is completely manufactured on United States soil. So today we are in the odd position of fully protecting a German book though made abroad but withholding all protection from a book in English if made in London. It is like our thrifty habit of patting China on the back while selling scrap iron to Japan for shooting China in front.

The high and commanding merit of the convention now under Senate consideration, with administration support, is that it abates the ancient scandal, for the central feature of this pact is that a copyright valid in one member country is automatically valid throughout.

This consideration in its behalf dwarfs all else, though the ugly fact it combats may not get a whisper in the hearings. Our only comfort is that American publishers are far superior to our law. They do not engage in wholesale piracy any more. English authors trust our honor. If they reprint it is because there is generally thought to be profit in having an American edition, too. And then they put us to shame by frequently placing a British publisher's name on an

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American title page without British manufacture and letting it count as a union publication.

Could there be a better time to end this miserable business and stop our insensate discrimination against the English-speaking peoples in favor of alien tongues? The Senate will raise the honor of America in the world by repealing the legalization of piracy and letting America take her proper seat in the assembly of nations that produce literature and validate its property right everywhere.

Ratification of this convention would end the long detour for America away from the Constitution and get her squarely back once more on that great highway. Let's do it now. M. LLEWELLYN RANEY, Director.

APRIL 12, 1941.

STATEMENT OF EDWARD A. SARGOY, CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON COPYRIGHTS OF THE SECTION OF PATENT, TRADE-MARK, AND COPYRIGHT LAW OF THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

Senator THOMAS of Utah. Please give your name.

Mr. SARGOY. Mr. Chairman, my name is Edward A. Sargoy, of New Rochelle, N. Y. I appear as a member of the board of the State of New York, in behalf of the American Bar Association, directed by Mr. Lloyd Sutton, chairman of the section of patent, trade-mark, and copyright law of the association. I am chairman of the section committee on copyrights.

The association has taken the position during the past few years of opposition to adherence as proposed. At its annual meeting in 1938 at Cleveland, and at the annual meeting in 1939 at San Francisco, the section adopted certain resolutions which upon its recommendation were in turn adopted by the association, to the effect, then, that while not opposed in principle to international copyright, the association felt that the domestic law should first be amended before there be any declaration of adherence, but that if the Senate nevertheless felt that there should be such adherence they should do so with certain reservations, particularly in respect of retroactive effects and reservations such as would not permit nationals of other countries to have greater rights in the United States than the American citizens would have in those countries, because of the fact that many nations which originally adhered to the Berne and Berlin revisions were permitted to retain the benefit of reservations when they subsequently adhered in 1928, or after, to the revision of Rome.

Now, apart from that, the association has recently taken even a more severe position at its last annual meeting in Philadelphia in 1940, in considering S. 3043, the bill to revise our copyright laws generally. The committee, while not endorsing the specific provisions of the bill, did endorse it as one of the ablest attempts made at a general revision, and endorsed its purpose of trying to provide that domestic legislation which would be preparatory to adhering to Rome.

However, from the floor of the section meeting, when the committee on copyrights of the section presented its report, there was added an amendment to the effect that the section, and subsequently the association which adopted it, did not approve automatic copyright from creation without formalities, and did not approve a term of copyright measured by the life of the author plus a fixed number of years, and did not endorse adherence to the copyright union.

I offer in my official capacity to state that that was the position taken by the association at its annual meeting in Philadelphia, and a few days thereafter taken by the house of delegates of the association.

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