MARK TWAIN'S COPYRIGHT STRUGGLES.
OTTAWA, May 29. - For several days past Mr. Samuel L. Clemens (Mark Twain)
has been a guest at the Government House. He has succeeded in securing a Canadian
copyright for his last work, "Life on the Mississippi." His failure
to secure Canadian copyright last year for his "Prince and Pauper"
probably led him to take another course this time, which would be more likely
to secure him the protection he desired. In the first instance, he brought out
his new work in England, which entitled him to British copyright. This only
gave him partial protection in the British colonies, as any foreign publisher
could introduce his work in Canada by paying him a royalty of 12 1/2 per cent.
on the value of each volume. Not satisfied with this, and being determined that
his works should be copyrighted in Canada, he transferred his work to the English
publisher, Andrew Chatto, of London, who applied for and was granted Dominion
copyright on May 15.
