101 Questions on the Sanctuary and on Ellen White

72. Copyright Laws and Plagiarism A Century Ago

Did copyright laws exist one hundred years ago? Did the Whites know about these laws? Did they understand what constituted plagiarism? QSEW 64.4

Yes, copyright laws did exist, and the White family, as well as Adventists in general, were aware of these laws. They also understood what the word “plagiarism” meant. In 1864 Uriah Smith editorialized in the Review: QSEW 64.5

“Plagiarism: This is a word that is used to signify ‘literary theft,’ or the taking [of] the productions of another and passing them off as one’s own. QSEW 64.6

“In the World’s Crisis of August 23, 1864, we find a piece of poetry duly headed, ‘For the World’s Crisis,’ and signed, ‘Luthera B. Weaver.’ What was our surprise, therefore, to find this piece our familiar hymn, ‘Long upon the mountains weary have the scattered flock been torn. ’ QSEW 65.1

“This piece was written by Annie R. Smith, and was first published in the Review, Volume ii, No. 8, December 9, 1851, and has been in our hymn book ever since the first edition thereafter issued. QSEW 65.2

“We are perfectly willing that pieces from the Review, or any of our books should be published to any extent, and all we ask is, that simple justice be done us by due credit being given.”—The Review and Herald, September 6, 1864, Page 120. QSEW 65.3

Edson White who had become a publisher in his own right, once advised his younger brother Willie about copyrights on hymns: QSEW 65.4

“In regard to copyrights: You are mistaken when you think they have only a general copyright on the [hymn] book. Every original piece [of music] is copyrighted. Even if not I receive advice from the Librarian of Congress in the matter. He says a general copyright will hold every piece in the book unless they were to be published separately. I wanted words from Biglow and Main for an Anthem, but did not dare to use them until I had written. I would advise you to be very careful about infringing on copyrights. The world will soon use everything they can command against us, and what they might now allow to pass might in the future injure us very much.”—James Edson White to W. C. White. May 21. 1878. The editor of the Youth’s Instructor in 1895 expressed his chagrin at being deceived by certain contributors to the paper. He protested strongly: “Articles have been received in good faith as original, which afterward to our great mortification were found to have been copied bodily from another’s writings.” The editor referred to this practice as plagiarism and thievery. He stated: QSEW 65.5

“A plagiarist is one who pretends to have written an original article, but who has borrowed it-perhaps stolen would be a more appropriate word—from another person. Some people who would think it a great sin to steal a bushel of apples or a dollar in money, have little hesitation to steal the written thoughts and expressions of others, and then palm them off as their own. Such persons need to have their moral senses sharpened, so that they shall realize that it is as truly a theft to steal an article from a book or paper and send it to the press as original, as it is to steal anything else.” QSEW 65.6

In conclusion, he appealed to his readers: QSEW 65.7

“Will all friends of the Instructor write freely their own best and choicest thoughts, and quote from other writers if they desire, but let it be clearly known what is original with them and what is not?”—The Youth’s Instructor, May 2, 1895. QSEW 65.8