Copyright in Germany was first regulated as respects duration by the confederation; a resolution of which, in 1837, fixed the duration of property in literary productions and works of art at 10 years; and another resolution in 1845, extended it to the life time of the author, and for 30 years after his death. The laws regulating the contract of an author with his publisher varied in the different states. In Prussia, when an author assigned a C. to a publisher without any special stipulation, the publisher was entitled to issue only one edition, the extent of which he might determine. But a dis tinction is made between reprints or new Issues (auflagen) and new editions (ausgaben). In the case of the former, the publisher is left free, on condition that he shall pay to the author, should no agreement be come to between them, on the occasion of each new issue, half the sum which lie paid him for the first. New editions, on the contrary, can be published by the first publisher only by entering into a new contract with the author, which must be given in writing. This privilege is limited to the author's life, though his children have a claim for a'honorarium for each edition issued after his death. The rights of the publisher may be transferred, and those of the author descend to his heirs. When the rights which have been conveyed to the publisher terminate, the author becomes again the unlimited proprietor of the work. C. in Germany is now regulated by imperial legislation. By the Reich.s reifassung of 16th April, 1871 (art. 4), the pro tection of " intellectual property" (der Schutz des geistigen Eigenthums) was expressly included in the matters which were to be dealt with by the imperial parliament.
Copyright in exists in the author and in his widow for life, in his children for 20 years, and in his other heirs or assignees for 10 years after his own death or that of his widow. In Belgium the same law prevails, with this exception, that the right, whether in children or in other representatives, extends to 20 years after death.
International copyright is a mutual convention between two countries to protect each other's (1., translations included. The United Kingdom made such arrangement with Spain, Austria, Belgium, Saxony, Prussia. France, Italy, etc. The United States
have ever refused to enter into any international law of C. with Great Britain; a cir cumstance, as is understood, imputable chiefly to the opposition of the leading pub lishers of pirated editions of British C. works.
The late Right Hon. ,Tames Wilson contemplated a consolidation of the C. laws, and such a measure is certainly very desirable. Amongst improvements required may be cited the following: 1. An irhproved system of registration. As matters are now con ducted at the stationers' hall, any person may make any entry lie pleases, with very little check in case of false pretension. A reform in this particular should embrace a system of registration in Edinburgh, and also in Dublin, as well as in London, for the convenience of the three sections of the United Kingdom; the registrar of each section to get copies annually of the other registers for general inspection. 2. A clearer under standing of the posture of articles contributed to periodicals, encyclopredias, etc. It would probably answer the main purposes of justice, if the proprietor of the work contrib uted to were held as having, by his stipulated payment, acquired the C., unless where a special reservation was made. 3. A. protection to publishers for literary services paid under a salary. It is clearly absurd to expect that each particular article, or, say, addi tion to a formerly existing book, written in these circnmstances, should be matter of formal assignment; and in practice no such assignment takes place. Yet, with authors disposed to take advantages, there may be cases in which the honorable understanding as to the sufficiency of salary may be no protection to the publisher from at least a harass ing litigation. 4. A remedy for the great mistake made in Talfourd's act, in the exten sion of copyright. By making this extension only to the representatives of authors who had not parted with their copyrights, the real objects of the act would be secured, and an additional inducement to produce on the part of literary men would be established. See BOOK-TRADE. W. C.