Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 6, 1880

No. 182.
Mr. Angell to Mr. Evarts.

Legation of the United States,
Peking, August 28, 1880. (Received October 12.)

No. 14.]

Sir: Mr. John F. Wilbur, of Germantown, Pa., has written me, as he says, by the advice of the Assistant Secretary of State, asking what are the rights of a foreign author to his publications in this country, and also whether a resident here can represent the author and so protect his rights.

As other Americans may desire information on the subject, I herewith communicate to you my answer to him.

I have, &c.,

JAMES B. ANGELL.

[Inclosure in No. 14.]

Mr. Angell to Mr. Wilbur.

Peking, August 28, 1880.

Sir: I have received your letter of June 30, 1880, inquiring what are the rights of a foreign author to his publications in this country, and also whether a resident here can represent the author and so protect his rights.

In reply, I beg leave to say that there is no copyright law and no law of any kind in China to protect the right of authors in their works. On the other hand, there is hardly any risk that any publisher will attempt to reproduce any of your works which you may print here or send here. The foreign community is so small that there is no inducement to a publisher to make a reprint of a work in any European language; and mo one would think of reprinting any work you might publish in Chinese.

I am, &c.,

JAMES B. ANGELL.