COPYRIGHT PROVISIONS APPLYING TO SOVIET BLOC PUBLICATIONS AND PRESS WIRE SERVICES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-00706R000300100013-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 15, 2001
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: March 26, 1957
• Content Type: MEMO

"Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81-00706R000300100013-1
Office Memorandum ? UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
TO Assistant Director for Operations
FROM Chief, Foreign Documents Division
DATM 26 March 1957
SUBJECT: Copyright Provisions Applying to Soviet Bloc Publications
and Press Wire Services
OGC HAS REVIEWED.
1. I have contacted the Department of State on the subject
of copyright and have received the following advice from Mr. Elias C.
Rodriquez, International Business Practices Division, ITR, Bureau
of Economic Affairs, and Mr. Jack F. Matlock, Division of Research
for USSR and Eastern Europe, R Area.
(1) USSR. There is definitely no copyright conven-
tion between the USSR and the U.S. Any Soviet publication
may be reproduced or translated and republished in the U.B.
with impunity and without fear of infringement or potential
suit. The Soviets do the same to U.S. publications. How-
ever, from time to time on a very erratic basis they do
tender payment of some royalties to a few U.S. authors.
This is permitted by Soviet law.
(2) Eastern Europe. For the Eastern European Satellite
countries, the situation is more complicated. In general
we do have conventions with each of the.. countries except
Bulgaria. Accordingly, Bulgarian publications may be
treated in the same way as Soviet publications as far as
oopyright is concerned. However, for the other countries,
excepting Yugoslavia and Albania, we are obliged to recognise
copyright where it is stipulated even though the author say
not have yet registered it with the U.B. Copyright Office.
Be is privileged to effect registration at any ties within
the 28 years of copyright protection and file retroactive
suit for infringement.
(3) Communist China. A technical legal point arises
here in that we do not accord,diplaeatie recognition to
Communist China. We do however recognise the literary
product of Chinese nationals. The Chinese Communists
(presumably through representatives in this country) have
requested registration with the U.S. Copyright Office of
some of their books, notably the works of Mao-tse-tong.
FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81-00706R000300100013-1
 Approved For F L se, 20111&6.3 -Rt P81-00706R000300100013-1
to Soviet Bloc Publica-
::~a and ._e; w1r- services
Each st:ch req.1eat has been reviewed and denied on certain
technical groun d3 sc far. Although it is doubtful that
the Chinese CCmunlsts wcrild ever try to enter suit in
the U. S. for infringement inasmuch as they recognize no
U. S. copyright in their ovn country, still from a legal
standpoint, the issue is not clear.
b. Press Wire services. There is no convention covering
press wire services. As you probably know, in the U. S., caoman
law provides protection for the press services. However, in
Europe there is no protection at the present time for any of the
countries. This has been recognized as a serious problem and
there is at present a study being developed by UNESCO which, it
is believed, will lead to the establishment of an international
convention affording protection to press wire services.
2. There is attached for your information a copy of "Inter-
national Copyright Relations of the United States of America" issued
by the Office of the Legal Adviser, Department of State.
Enclosure:
"International Copyright Relations
of the USA" dtd August 1, 1951
nPILY
'Si1a `u~ C/l+
Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81-00706R000300100013-1
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Approved For Release 2001/09/03 : CIA-RDP81-00706R000300100013-1