The Orphans are going to take the Orphanage- copyright and orphan works

Are you keeping up with the latest news on the Orphan Works Act of 2008?

I think we need a little respite from the craziness with this editorial note from Publishers Weekly, July 7, 1888 [No. 858]

One of the most amusing features of the present copyright movement- and there are not a few- is the agitation that has worked the "bone and sinew" of the British Isles into a fevered heat, which to the most cool-headed must cause positive alarm. The "British workman," that is the "printers, printers' engineers, engravers, book-sellers, compositors, pressmen, machinemen, machineboys, printers' devils, paper-makers, paper-makers' engineers, paper-stockmen, publishers, book binders, type founders, ink-makers, lithographers, etc.," - to quote a list displayed in large type down the columns of the British Printer- have combined to protest against the Chance Bill for no other reason than that they object to having the "headquarters of literature transferred, either gradually or suddenly, from England to America." Their great fear seems to be that "America is likely to become sole manufacturer of the best English books," and the London houses would become mere branches of the American ones." Among other alarmists, the Paper Trade Review seriously considers this "a question of extreme gravity concerning alike the vital necessities of the printing and auxiliary trades, and there is a danger of its being merged into a question of general commercial policy. That must not be! We feel that it is no fiscal question whatever. Free trade and protection have nothing to do with the matter." Truly, the "Dutch are going to take Holland." The interests of English authors, by the way, are quite overlooked by these gentlemen.

Too good to add to my weekly update of news.