3257.—The Matter of Copyrighting
By Editor
Can I as a follower of Jesus of Nazareth have my books or works copyrighted or covered by civil law? W. A. O. To put the question in another form, Has a man a right to guard his property? If one has written a book from his own mind, which is truly his own work, the right of property vests in that as truly as if he had builded him a barn or purchased a horse with the fruit of his labor. His house is protected by always remaining in the same place, or else being occupied by himself or others to whom he has leased it. His right of property is recognized by all. However, if that house were scattered broadcast, or were subject to removal in a hundred different places, dishonest people might not recognize the right of ownership, and occupy it without compensation. The products of one's brains in books are scattered to the ends of the earth. It has been a notorious fact demonstrated for years, that there are many who will take what others have thus produced, use it freely, profit by it, and without any acknowledgment whatsoever. Surely a man has the right to protect that which belongs to him, and of which God has made him steward. He has as much right to conserve it and reap legitimate profits from it as does the farmer his crops, the builder his house, or the merchant his goods. Then, too, the copyright prevents the garbling of one's ideas.