Show ESS ON THE I COMMON LAW J Ambassador Bryce the Principal Principal j pal Speaker at American Bar BarI I Association Meeting CHEERS FOR THE DIPLOMAT REPORT ON PROPOSED COPY COpyRIGHT RIGHT BILL Portland Me Aug 28 A reso resolution lution criticising Roosevelt for commenting upon the trial of the beef trust case in Chicago a year ago and adversely criticising the presiding Judge and his rulings was introduced at the final ses session session sion slon of 0 the American Bar association Hon tion by b r George Whitlock of Bait Balti Baltimore more It met disapproval from all parts of the hall hail r G President Parker repeatedly asked Whitlock to withdraw the resolution but Whitlock insisted that it be voted on A motion to table the resolution prevailed aft after aftEr after er a gentleman In the audience who failed to secure recognition shouted that when the president of the United States violates his trust and his duty the American Bar association should criticise him The following officers were elect elected elected ed cd President J M Dickinson Chicago secretary John Hinkley Hinkey Baltimore treasurer Frederick C CC C Wadhams New York Tork C The convention then adjourned 0 4 Portland Me ire Aug 28 British Am Ambassador Ambassador Ambassador Bryce was sas given an ovation when he appeared to address the American Bar convention After In Introduction introduction introduction by President Parker the audience of 2000 stood and cheered for fully a minute Mr subject was the Common Law which he characterized as the common posses possession possession possession sion of England and the United States and a bond of sympathy whose value could hardly be overrated It was the result of the mental and moral quail qualities qualities ties of both people He said the right of a trial by jury had been a bulwark of English freedom but ewe we In Eng England England England land have no longer that confidence in ina Ina Ina a Jurys wisdom in certain classes of civil actions which we once had and the tendency Is to narrow the sphere of Its employment A business session followed address The secretary announced no reports from the committees on Indian legislation prison discipline federal courts or real estate Copyright Bill The proposed copyright bill now be before before before fore congress as now framed is quite I I complete and if passed will mark a ii f I distinct advance in the opinion of the thel I l committee on proposed copyright bill bUl bUlof of the American Bar association The report of or the committee was presented to the meeting today The report says The two bills now pending one be before before before fore the house and one orie before the sen senate senate senate ate differ slightly in some particulars The senate bill is somewhat broader and more comprehensive than the house bill The proposed legislation includes certain general features which are worked out in detail in the bill These features may be summarized as follows 1 A broadening of the subject of copyright to include all classes of works which can be included within the constitutional terms Writings of an author 2 The recognition of a right of property in all the works of an author before as well as after publication I provided a notice of claim of copy copyright copyright copyright right Is Impressed upon or attached to the work at the time of publication Copies to Be Deposited The requirement for registration of title is dispensed with but two copies of the best edition are required to be deposited with the librarian of con congress congress on gress and the register copyrights of is given ghen the right to call for these copies pies if they are not so deposited and a penalty is I imposed upon the copyright proprietor for failure to comply with such notice 13 3 The extension of th the tha subject of copyright to include all forms fo ms of rec record record record ord In which the thought of an author may be recorded and from which It may be read or reproduced The intention of or this language is to include all aU means of or copy COP copyright copyright right music such discs and pianola records 4 The character of ot the notice le ze zeI I by the statute is greatly short shortened shortened ened and simplified Remedies for Infringement 5 The remedies provided for In Infringement infringement Infringement of or copyright are arl ar consol consolidated consolIdated consolidated simplified and expanded For Formerly Formerly Formerly merly the of dramatic works and m musical works were pun punished punished punIshed criminally while the of books works of art and other sub subjects subjects jets of copyright are not so punished Now all classes of Infringement are Continued on Page 2 ADDRESS ON THE COMMON LAW Continued from Page 1 1 placed on the same footing tooting and will willful willful willful ful infringement is made a criminal offense Civil remedies are also pro provided provided PrOvided vided of a comprehensive nature 6 The rights of aliens are en enlarged enlarged enlarged to the extent that any person resident In any part of the world may obtain American copyright by first or contemporaneously with Its first pub publication publication In a foreign country publish publishing ing his work within the limits of the United States This places the United States law of copyrights upon a par with Ith that of ot Great Britain and some other foreign countries Distinct Advance Marked The bill as now framed Is compre comprehensive comprehensive comprehensive and quite complete and it is believed that if it is passed it will mark a distinct advance in the pro protection protection protection of at this class of property Both of ot the bills were reported to congress con ress at the last session It is the I contention of at those interested to re reIntroduce reIntroduce reIntroduce I i Introduce the bills bUIs as soon as congress I convenes and to press them for pass passage passage passage age ageTh The Thet Th principal difference e between the bills bUIs lies In the fact that the senate Dill Bill Included specifically the protection of musical copyright against reproductions r by phonograph discs or pa pia pianola panola panola nola records While the house bill does not extend the law In this par particular particular particular this difference was due not nat to any difference of opinion between the committees as to the propriety of ci pro protecting protecting musical copyright to this ex extent eXtent e tent but the house committee felt that the language of the present law awi they have adhered to might be broad enough to include e such copies and as there Is now pending in the tIle supreme court a case involving his question they the preferred to watt walt until tho the court has expressed its opinion before at al attempting attempting tempting to change h the statute in this particular The senate i felt that the proposition was Inherently right and that therefore it could do dono dono dono no harm to express s it in the statute The bills bUls will be pending again be before before before fore the next congress and your com corn committee committee may be able to aid In securing Its passage therefore the committee would be glad to be continued The selection of the place or the next convention Is left with the executive committee Ambassador Bryce was made an honorary member of the as association In accordance with a reso resolution reso resolution resolution lution adopted at session the bureau of comparative law was organ organized organIzed organIzed this afternoon for the purpose of charge of issuing a bulletin showing the titles of foreign legisla legislation legislation legislation tion during the year and to begin the gradual translation of foreign codes and publishing them In uniform vol yol volumes volumes umes |