NAB reports (Mar-Dec 1933)

COPYRIGHTING RADIO SCRIPTS Dramatic compositions or radio scripts may be registered in the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. The rules of the Copyright Office provide that a dramatic composition not repro¬ duced in copies for sale may be registered upon the execution of Form D2 which requires that one complete copy be forwarded and upon the payment of a registration fee of $1.00. Forms and in¬ structions for the registration of dramatic compositions may be secured by writing the Copyright Office, Library of Congress, Washington, D. C. “If the work is not to be reproduced in copies for sale,” says the regulation, “one complete typewritten copy may be sent to the Copyright Office with an application for registration and the statutory fee of $1.00. Use for this purpose Form D2. “If such work is afterwards reproduced in copies for sale, how¬ ever, deposit must again be made of two copies of the best edition published promptly after such publication with fee and application for a second registration. “If therefore, a dramatic work is intended to be reproduced in copies for sale, the duplicate registration may be avoided by deferring registration until after publication, until which time pro¬ tection against infringement is secured under the provisions of Section 2 of the Copyright Act of March 4, 1904, which reads as follows: “ ‘Section 2. That nothing in this act shall be construed to annul or limit the right of the author or proprietor of an unpublished work, at common law or in equity, to prevent the copying, pub¬ lication, or use of such unpublished work without his consent, and to obtain damages therefor.’ ” SHAW APPOINTED TO STATE BOARD Harry Shaw, WMT, Waterloo, Iowa, former president of the NAB, was appointed by General Hugh S. Johnson on August 1, to be a member of the Iowa State Recovery Board consisting of nine members. COMMISSIONER BROWN LEAVES Radio Commissioner Thad H. Brown, left Washington for a combination vacation and inspection trip on Friday. He will not return until the early part of September. This leaves Commissioner Hanley the only member of the Commission now in Washington. Commissioner Lafount, who has been away since early in July, is expected to return on August 9. “TEACHING BY RADIO” OFF THE PRESS “The Art of Teaching by Radio,” a highly instructive treatise on the subject of broadcast teaching prepared by Dr. Cline M. Koon, senior specialist in education by radio, U. S. Office of Edu¬ cation, is just off he press. The book discusses authoritatively the possible forms of broad¬ casts, preparation of broadcasts, enlisting and assisting listeners, presentation of broadcasts and contains an excellent bibliography of material sources. The work was undertaken by the U. S. Office of Education, several months ago in cooperation with the NAB and the Asso¬ ciation of College and University Stations. The book may be secured from the United States Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C., at a cost of 10 cents per copy and will be a valuable addition to every broadcasters and teachers library. A. F. OF M. OFFERS FREE NRA MUSIC Free music is to be furnished for mass meeting held in connec¬ tion with the President’s re-employment campaign. Joseph N. Webber, president of the American Federation of Musicians today advised the 148,000 members of his organization that they should co-operate wholeheartedly in the drive. His message addressed to “all local unions,” follows: “No doubt your local is aware of the fact that the government is arranging speaking and publicity drives in all cities to put over its blanket code plan. For this purpose mass meetings or some other functions may be arranged. So that our organization — I know you will agree to this — may do its mite in the campaign which has for its purpose the raising of our country out of the economic misery to which it has been subjected these last four years; your local is urged and requested to furnish a band (mass band if possible) to render services at such mass meetings or functions as our contribution to the efforts of the government to make its drive on behalf of its blanket code plan successful. “The government will leave the matter in the hands of Local Arrangement Committees, and your local is advised to assist the committee of your city by furnishing a band or bands for the purposes above explained. “Kindly acknowledge receipt of this communication so as to place this office in a position to advise the government of the number and names of the participating locals.” FAN MAIL RULING CLARIFIED Several inquiries have been received at NAB headquarters rela¬ tive to the application of the Post Office Department’s ruling relat¬ ing to the forwarding of fan mail. The ruling by the Solicitor of the Department was given in a letter to the NAB Managing Direc¬ tor, which was circulated among stations but several questions have arisen relative to its applicability. In order to clarify the situation Postmasters now have been advised by the Third Assistant Postmaster General’s office that “audience” or “fan” mail, prepaid at first-class rates of postage when originally sent to broadcasting stations may thereafter, if it has not been opened, be remailed to other points in bulk at the third or fourth-class rate of postage, according to the weight of the packages, whether remailed to the headquarters or other sta¬ tions of the radio broadcasting systems, or to advertising agencies, or the sponsors or advertisers, irrespective of whether the letters are to be opened finally by the persons or concerns to whom they are so remailed in bulk. RMA SUBSTITUTE CODE APPROVED Two important sections of the code of fair competition filed this week by the Radio Manufacturers Association were approved by the National Recovery Administration as substitutes for labor provi¬ sions in the President’s Reemployment Agreement during the week. With the approval of these substitute provisions, radio manufac¬ turers may execute the President’s Agreement, taking the advan¬ tages given in these substitute provisions which in reality become a part of the blanket code as it applies to the radio manufacturing industry. WEAO BECOMES WOSU Col. Thad H. Brown, acting chairman of the Radio Commission, officially advised Ohio State University that the Commission had approved a change in the call letters of its broadcast station from WEAO to WOSU. Colonel Brown is an alumnus of Ohio State University. NO LOUD-SPEAKER JURISDICTION In reply to numerous complaints, inquiries and suggestions rela¬ tive to the use of loud speakers during the summer months, Com¬ missioner Thad H. Brown, Acting Chairman of the Federal Radio Commission, today issued the following statement: “At this time we are being petitioned by many ‘distracted’ listen¬ ers for relief from loud speakers operating late in the night. Many complainants charge they are on the verge of nervous prostration, being unable to get needed rest. “Because of the tremendous demand of the vast majority of the listening public, the Commission has designated the broadcast day as that period from 6 a. m. to 12 midnight. But, as some com¬ plainants point out, it is possible for a loud speaker to be operated all night, giving forth programs from distant stations, operating within their lawful time. Reducing the hours in the broadcasting day would not therefore solve the problem. “So there is little or nothing the Commission can do about this matter under the circumstances, other than suggest to listeners that thev applv the Golden Rule, and show the proper consideration for their neighbors. “Certainly at this season when it is necessary to keep doors and windows open, all radio receiving sets should be tuned down very low, so that the signals will be confined to a very limited area. Low, soft tones are, in many respects, much more satisfying and desirable than loud, harsh ones. “In all communities the police have authority to eliminate public nuisances. Many towns, villages and cities have enacted ordi¬ nances which are proving very effective in limiting the operation of loud speakers. Broadcasting stations might help the situation by suggesting to listeners that they tune down their sets when they use them during late hours.” . Page 111