Music Trade Review
Issue: 1898 Vol. 26 N. 21 - Page 12
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVffiW
14
Infringers of Copyrighted flusic.
TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON BY THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT.
It finally begins to seem probable that
the United States Congress will take ac-
tion to protect American music publishers
from the industrious horde of thieves who
ignore the international copyright arrange-
ments between this country and Great
Britain and are flooding American cities
with stolen copies of songs supposed to be
protected by copyright, and originally
published here. The Committee on Pat-
ents reported the other day, recommend-
ing certain changes in the copyright law,
and these it is hoped will tend to check
the illegal traffic, for the reason that they
provide severer punishment both by im-
prisonment and fine than that nominated
in the legislation in question, as it stands
at present. It will enable the courts to
fine prisoners convicted of this offense in
any sum up to $1,000, and to send them to
jail for a year, or to inflict both penalties
in cases which are of a flagrant character.
The Canadian publishers engaged in the
business of stealing songs copyrighted in
the United States have been disposing of
great quantities of their' wares in small
cities of the interior, where they are sold
at retail at ten cents a copy, in opposition
to dealers handling the legitimate publi-
cations at fifty cents apiece.
Some of the letters attached to the fa-
vorable report of the committee are rather
interesting. The assistant superintendent
of mails at Buffalo, for instance, wrote to
Oliver Ditson & Co., of Boston, in part, under the conditions which at present ex-
as follows: "Canadian music publishers ist, and so our leading music publishers
have resorted to another scheme to circu- are being subjected to tremendous losses
late their reprints through United States every year.
mails. While we were watching the Can-
adian mails they sent them across the bor-
Ramaciotti Wares.
der outside the mails, and had them posted
right here in this city. Yesterday we held
This week's report at the Ramaciotti
several hundred parcels." Here is a typi- bass string factory is encouraging. Busi-
cal wail for a dealer in Brazil, Ind. : " Mr. ness is fairly active and there is no lack of
Blank, of this city, is selling another edi- orders. That part of the Ramaciotti fac-
tion of this thing (mentioning a popular tory devoted to the carving of piano pan-
song), at ten cents. I have a copy of it els is also kept busy at work.
which was bought in his store to-day. He
The Ramaciotti specialty is bass strings,
says he is having a large sale of these but the carving branch is rapidly develop-
special editions. What I want to know is, ing because of the expert workmanship
is this legitimate, selling a cheaper edition displayed, and the great care taken in exe-
of the same thing? If not, is there any cution of even the minutest details in con-
way to have it brought before the proper nection with the art.
authorities; and if it is legitimate why
should I pay a fancy price to protect the
Erd Piano Co.'s Progress.
owner of the copyright, or what is our
copyright law in existence for?
This
The Erd Piano & Harp Co., of Saginaw,
dealer is selling all the late and popular
Mich.,
are making extensive improve-
things at ten cents, and gets them, he
ments
and additions in their factory.
says, from Canada. It is impossible for
Spring
trade
with them has been highly
an honest dealer to cope with a rascal who
satisfactory,
and
the present prospects in-
will disregard our national law as he is do-
dicate
that
'98
will
be one of the best years
ing, and if it can be adjusted I want it
in
their
history.
Mrs.
Erd and her active
done."
co-workers
deserve
all
the
success which is
When the amended law goes into effect,
1
coming
their
way.
They
are making
as it now seems likely to do, the American
creditable
products
which,
we
are glad to
dealers in these Canadian piracies will find
note,
are
being
appreciated.
that they have a rocky road to travel. It
will then be possible to fittingly punish
them when they are found with the stolen
W. R. Gratz & Co. recently closed a sale
goods in their possession. It is utterly of 1,500 bugles to the New York state
impossible to fittingly shake them down militia.
HARDMAN, PECK & CO.,
ESTABLISHED 1842.
Manufacturers of the Famous
HARDMAN
PIANO
'The only Piano which improves under usage. 1
We also own and control E. Q. Harrington & Co.,
Incorporated, manufacturers of the
Standard and
Harrington
Pianos
Sold by nearly all the largest houses throughout the United States.
Dealers will find it to their interest to write for I898
Prices and Catalogues.
The Best First-Class Medium-Priced Pianos
in the Country.
Write for Illustrated Catalogues, Territory and Prices for both Pianos, to
HARDMAN, PECK & Co.
138 Fifth Avenue, New York City.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVffiW
14
Infringers of Copyrighted flusic.
TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON BY THE UNITED
STATES GOVERNMENT.
It finally begins to seem probable that
the United States Congress will take ac-
tion to protect American music publishers
from the industrious horde of thieves who
ignore the international copyright arrange-
ments between this country and Great
Britain and are flooding American cities
with stolen copies of songs supposed to be
protected by copyright, and originally
published here. The Committee on Pat-
ents reported the other day, recommend-
ing certain changes in the copyright law,
and these it is hoped will tend to check
the illegal traffic, for the reason that they
provide severer punishment both by im-
prisonment and fine than that nominated
in the legislation in question, as it stands
at present. It will enable the courts to
fine prisoners convicted of this offense in
any sum up to $1,000, and to send them to
jail for a year, or to inflict both penalties
in cases which are of a flagrant character.
The Canadian publishers engaged in the
business of stealing songs copyrighted in
the United States have been disposing of
great quantities of their' wares in small
cities of the interior, where they are sold
at retail at ten cents a copy, in opposition
to dealers handling the legitimate publi-
cations at fifty cents apiece.
Some of the letters attached to the fa-
vorable report of the committee are rather
interesting. The assistant superintendent
of mails at Buffalo, for instance, wrote to
Oliver Ditson & Co., of Boston, in part, under the conditions which at present ex-
as follows: "Canadian music publishers ist, and so our leading music publishers
have resorted to another scheme to circu- are being subjected to tremendous losses
late their reprints through United States every year.
mails. While we were watching the Can-
adian mails they sent them across the bor-
Ramaciotti Wares.
der outside the mails, and had them posted
right here in this city. Yesterday we held
This week's report at the Ramaciotti
several hundred parcels." Here is a typi- bass string factory is encouraging. Busi-
cal wail for a dealer in Brazil, Ind. : " Mr. ness is fairly active and there is no lack of
Blank, of this city, is selling another edi- orders. That part of the Ramaciotti fac-
tion of this thing (mentioning a popular tory devoted to the carving of piano pan-
song), at ten cents. I have a copy of it els is also kept busy at work.
which was bought in his store to-day. He
The Ramaciotti specialty is bass strings,
says he is having a large sale of these but the carving branch is rapidly develop-
special editions. What I want to know is, ing because of the expert workmanship
is this legitimate, selling a cheaper edition displayed, and the great care taken in exe-
of the same thing? If not, is there any cution of even the minutest details in con-
way to have it brought before the proper nection with the art.
authorities; and if it is legitimate why
should I pay a fancy price to protect the
Erd Piano Co.'s Progress.
owner of the copyright, or what is our
copyright law in existence for?
This
The Erd Piano & Harp Co., of Saginaw,
dealer is selling all the late and popular
Mich.,
are making extensive improve-
things at ten cents, and gets them, he
ments
and additions in their factory.
says, from Canada. It is impossible for
Spring
trade
with them has been highly
an honest dealer to cope with a rascal who
satisfactory,
and
the present prospects in-
will disregard our national law as he is do-
dicate
that
'98
will
be one of the best years
ing, and if it can be adjusted I want it
in
their
history.
Mrs.
Erd and her active
done."
co-workers
deserve
all
the
success which is
When the amended law goes into effect,
1
coming
their
way.
They
are making
as it now seems likely to do, the American
creditable
products
which,
we
are glad to
dealers in these Canadian piracies will find
note,
are
being
appreciated.
that they have a rocky road to travel. It
will then be possible to fittingly punish
them when they are found with the stolen
W. R. Gratz & Co. recently closed a sale
goods in their possession. It is utterly of 1,500 bugles to the New York state
impossible to fittingly shake them down militia.
HARDMAN, PECK & CO.,
ESTABLISHED 1842.
Manufacturers of the Famous
HARDMAN
PIANO
'The only Piano which improves under usage. 1
We also own and control E. Q. Harrington & Co.,
Incorporated, manufacturers of the
Standard and
Harrington
Pianos
Sold by nearly all the largest houses throughout the United States.
Dealers will find it to their interest to write for I898
Prices and Catalogues.
The Best First-Class Medium-Priced Pianos
in the Country.
Write for Illustrated Catalogues, Territory and Prices for both Pianos, to
HARDMAN, PECK & Co.
138 Fifth Avenue, New York City.
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