Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... APPENDIX A. THE RETEOSPECTIVB EFFECT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT ACT, 1886. It has been stated in the body of this work that the most difficult points have arisen in connection with Section 6 of the Statute of 1886. These points are more important in connection with musical copy- or performing-right than with any other subject-matter. This arises partly from the fact that many musical works of foreign origin (especially lyricodramatic ones) have fallen into the public domain, the title to protection under conventions between Great Britain and other States having lapsed through non-compliance with the necessity for registration arising on those documents. It has been asserted by some that it was the intention of the Legislature to "stretch backwards" (to use the homely, but vigorous phrase of a late eminent judge) the scope of the Convention of Berne so as to benefit authors who had lost their right by negligence; and to wake up again copyrights forty years old, it may be, a strange exemplification of the French proverb, "Le bien vient en dormant." There are several different periods to which, it may be argued, the statutory scope ought to be carried back, as will be hereafter seen. In the case of conventions with States which do not wish to join that of Berne, there must be some limit in point of antiquity to the claim of works to be swept in; and what that limit is to be under every combination of circumstances is not finally decided. Indeed, this doubt is not entirely set at rest even with reference to the Berne Convention itself, though there has been already considerable litigation. Section 6 of the Statute is as follows: -- "Where an order is made under the International Copyright Acts with respect to any foreign country, the...
