A printed copy of the title of the book, map, chart, dramatic, or musical compo sition, engraving, cut, print, photograph or chromo, or a description of the paint ing, drawing, statue, statuary, or model or design for a work of the fine arts, for which copyright is desired, must be delivered to the Librarian of Congress or deposited in the mail, within the United States prepaid, addressed "Li brarian of Congress, Washington, D. C." This must be done on or before day of publication in this or any foreign coun try. Not later than the day of publica tion in this country or abroad, two com plete copies of the best edition of each book or other article must be delivered or deposited in the mail within the United States, addressed "Librarian of Con gress, Washington, D. C.," to perfect the copyright. The freight or postage must be prepaid or the publications in closed in parcels covered by printed pen alty labels, furnished by the Librarian, in which case they go free by mail (not express), without limit of weight, ac cording to the rulings of the Postoffice Department. Books must be printed from type set in the United States, or plates made therefrom; photographs from neg atives made in the United States; chro mos and lithographs from drawings on stone or transfers therefrom made in the United States. Without the deposit of copies above required, the copyright is void and a penalty of $25 is incurred. The law requires one copy of each new edition wherein any substantial changes are made to be deposited with the Libra rian of Congress.
No copyright is valid unless notice is given by inserting in every copy pub lished on the title-page or the page fol lowing if it be a book; or if a map, chart, musical composition, print, cut, engraving, photograph, painting, draw ing, chromo, statue, statuary, or model or design intended to be perfected as a work of the fine arts, by inscribing on some portion thereof, or on the sub stance on which the same is mounted, the following words, viz.: "Entered ac cording to Act of Congress in the year —, by , in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington," or at the option of the person entering the copyright the words: "Copyright, 19—, by The copyright law secures to authors and their assigns the exclusive right to translate or to dramatize any of their works; no notice is required to enforce this right. The original term of copy right runs for 28 years. Within six months before the end of that time, the author or designer, or his widow or chil dren, may secure a renewal for the fur ther term of 14 years, making 42 in all. In the case of books published in more than one volume, or of periodicals pub lished in numbers, or of engravings, photographs, or other articles published with variations, a copyright must be en tered for each volume or part of a book, or number of a periodical, or variety as to style, title, or inscription, of any other article. To complete the copyright on a book published serially in a period ical, two copies of each serial part, as well as of the complete work (if pub lished separately), should be deposited.
To secure copyright for a painting, statue, or model, or design intended to be perfected as a work of the fine arts, a definite title and description must ac company the application for copyright, and a mounted photograph of the same, as large as "cabinet" size, mailed to the Librarian of Congress not later than the day of publication of the work or de sign. The fine arts, for copyright pur poses, include only painting and sculp ture, and articles of merely ornamental and decorative art should be sent to the Patent Office; as subjects for Design Patents. Copyrights are not granted on trade-marks or on names of companies, libraries or articles, or on an idea or device or on prints or labels intended to be used for any article of manufacture.
If protection for such names or labels is desired, application must be made to the Patent Office.
Until 1891 copyright could be acquired only by a citizen of, or permanent resi dent in, the United States. By acts of 1909, 1912, 1913, 1914 protection was ex tended to photo-plays and pictures and many art productions. In December, 1887, the convention of Berne brought nearly all the states of Europe into copyright relations with one another. This was the most important step ever taken in the history of the world's liter ary dealings, for it secured an almost universal recognition of the rights of authors. The rights of citizens or sub jects of a foreign nation to copyright in the United States extend by Presidential proclamations to Great Britain, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and Portugal, and Americans can secure copyright in those countries. For this direct arrangements must be made abroad. For an Ameri can citizen to secure copyright in Great Britain the title should be entered at Stationers' Hall, London, the fee for which is 5 shillings sterling, and 5 shil lings additional if a certified copy of entry is required. The work must be published in Great Britain or in her do minions simultaneously with its publica tion in the United States, and five copies of the publication are required, one for the British Museum and four on demand of the Company of Stationers for four other libraries. Copyright may be se cured in France by a foreigner by de positing two copies of the publication at the Ministry of the Interior at Paris. No fee or entry title required. To se cure copyright in Belgium a foreigner may register his work at the Depart ment of Agriculture, Industry and Pub lic Works, at Brussels. In Switzerland, register of title at the Department of Commerce and Industry at Berne is op tional, not obligatory; fee, 2 francs. If registered, deposit of one copy is re quired. Copyright in Canada is to be registered with the Minister of Agricul ture at Ottawa; fee, $1 for registry and 50 cents for certificate, and the work to be published in Canada and two copies deposited. In Greece the period during which an author can hold a copyright is restricted to 15 years. The Swiss grant copyright during the life of the author or his heirs during 30 years from the date of publication of his work. In Brazil the author enjoys a copyright for life, and it is extended for 10 years after his death. In Venezuela the copyright endures for the life of the author and 14 years after his death. In Holland and Belgium the copyright lasts during the life of the author and during 20 years after his death. In Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Portugal copy right endures during the life of the au thor and during 30 years after his death. The duration of copyright in Italy is regulated in a peculiar manner. It en dures for the life of the author and 40 years after his death, or for 80 years after the publication of the work, the term of years being divided into two pe riods of 40 years each. If the author dies within the first period of 40 years the remainder of the term is enjoyed by his heirs or assigns. The second period of 40 years begins at the death of the author, if he has died after the first pe riod of 40 years has elapsed; or if he has died before them, at the end of the first period of 40 years. During the sec ond period any one is at liberty to re publish the work on payment to the owner of the copyright of a royalty of 5 per cent. on the price which must be marked on the book. France, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark accord a copy right during the life of the author and 50 years after his death. The law of Spain accords a copyright during the life of the author and for 80 years there after.