Law of Dramatic Copyright. II.

V. Dramatization of novels. - Continued. - Fortunately, we, in the United States, have had very little trouble in regard to the dramatization of novels. The copyright statute provides that the author of a copyrighted book may reserve the right to dramatize and translate his own work. There is no question, however, that but for this act which creates the additional right of dramatization and translation, the English rule would be in force in this country. The exclusive right of translating "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was denied Mrs. Stowe in Stowe v. Thomas, "decided before the enactment of the statute permitting authors to reserve the sole right to dramatize and translate their works.

In this case, it was held that a translation of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" into German was not an infringement of Mrs. Stowe's copyright.