WRITERS AND COMPOSERS ASK CONGRESS TO MODERNIZE COPYRIGHT LAW STRIKING FACTS ON LIGHTNING PROTECTION FRI. FEB. 28, 1969 - PLAINDEALER - PG. 5 American authors and composers are asking Congress to see the rhyme and reason why the 59-year-old copyright law should be modernized. This vestige of the pre-electronic era was written in 1909 for an age that never anticipated such wonder^--or problems--as television or radio or even the jukebox. Certainly it never envisioned the computer. Nor did it allow for'the fact that people, including composers and their heirs, now live longer than they did in those days. By failing to keep pace with these social and technological changes, the old law has unfairly penalized the very persons it was designed to protect -- the writers and composers who pro- • duce the books and plays and songs which contribute, much to our culture and enjoyment of life. As the law stands, it permits publishers, broadcasters apd Juke boy operators and other entrepreneurs to make a hefty profit on these works, but it shortchanges those who created them in the first place and those who must be encouraged to continued creativity. Outdated Exemptions The most ludicrous -- yet sad -- proof of the 1909 law's inadequacy is what is known as the jukebox exemption. Originally intended to exclude royalties from player pianos and phonographs equipped with several sets of earphones for use in "penny parlors" (the law called them coin-operated machines), this provision has, for ^the last thirty years, been applied to jukeboxes, which weren't invented until the 1930's. Even the $500-million jukebox industry has acknowledged the difference-- and the injustice--and, when it appeared that the law might be revised, agreed to pay a copyright royalty. The royalty provision was COP^RiCHr LAW written into the proposed legislation passed by the House last year and again this year, but that encouraging milestone was lost when the Senate failed to act on the measure. A new form of television, too, has taken a whack at the creative hand that has fed it for nearly twenty years. No Royalties From CATV The growing young cable television (CATV) industry has been profiting substantially by making the television receiver more useful in providing home entertainment using copyrighted literary and musical works.' The Supreme Court, however, recently held that under the present archaic law CATV operators were under no obligation to pay anything to the copyright owner for the lucrative privilege of picking up these programs and relaying them to their subscribers. In a strong dissent, Associate Justice Abe Fortas pointed out that the law was written "in a different day for different factual situations." The case, said Fortas, "calls not for the judgment of Solomon but for the dexterity of Houdini." Underscoring the complexity of the situation is the fact that the CATV industry has now been granted permission to originate its own programs. Senator John L. McCIellan (D. Ark.), chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights, has promised to re-introduce a comprehensive copyright revision bill when Congress reconvenes in January. Until he does and until the bill is passed, the anomalies of the present law will continue, jukeboxes and CATV will refuse to recognize any copyright responsibility, and American composers and authors will continue to be shortchanged even on the term of their copyright protection. Need Longer Protection Whereas a copyright in the United States still runs for only twenty-eight years, renewable for one additional twentyeight year period, in almost all other civilized countries novelists, playrights and composers are rewarded for their talents by payments for life and for fifty years thereafter. Thus elsewhere a composer or writer is accorded rights similar to those of a builder or other businessman who is able to create an estate for his widow and heirs through continuing ownership of his property. Not only are widows and heirs deprived under the present law. but composers and authors themselves are losing the rights to and the fruits of their work simply by outliving their copyright. The Law Serves You Old Way Of Starting Cold Car Now Banned By New State Law The old tried and true method of getting a stubborn car started on a cold, winter morning was to ask your neighbor to give you a push with his car. But don't try it this winter. Hiat advice comes from the Illinois State Bar association which points out that it is now against Illinois law for one vehicle to be pushed by another on the public roadways except in an emergency. Ordinarily, a dead battery or cold engine doesn't constitute and emergency. And even if it did, the law says a vehicle may not be pushed farther than is necessary to remove it from the roadway or from any immediate hazard. The bar association also cites some other rules of the road, based on both new and old laws, which have a special bearing on your driving this winter. Here they are: 1. Reduce speed on icy or snow covered roads or whenever "a special hazard exists... by reason of weather or road conditions." 2. Turn on head lights (not just parking lights) at sundown or "at anytime visibility is so limited as to require the use of lights for safety..." 3. Always signal for a turn. All vehicles must be equipped with electric turn indicators and these should be used. If the electric signal is inoperative, you MUST roll down the window (Hi the driver's side and give the appropriate hand signal. 4. Give the appropriate turr signal to indicate a change of lane or a start from a parallel parked position (a new law). But do not use a flashing turn signal on one side of the vehicle to indicate a parked or disabled vehicle, or as a "do pass" signal to motorists approaching from the rear. 5. Allow ample room for a passing manuever. On a twolane highway, after overtaking and passing another vehicle on its left, you must return to the right lane before coming within 200 feet of any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction. 6. Da not leave the motor running when the vehicle is parked on a roadway unless the driver is in the car. 7. Studded snow tires maybe used in Illinois for the first time this winter (between Oct. 1 and May 1). Until the middle 1500's, all cannon and other heavy artillery were owned by the foundries, and rented out for wars, just as certain types of equipment and machinery are now rented. McHENRY PLAINDEALER Established 1875 8812 West Elm Street Phone 885*0170 McHenry, Illinois -- 60050 Published Every Wednesday & Friday at McHenry, 111. Second Class Postage Paid at McHenry, Illinois by McHENRY PUBLISHING COMPANY LH;HT!NIN<; STHOKES. 9,000,000 »iiiu\« o\»-r land or -i times a minute. Lightning is nature's, most striking phenomenon, as the pun goes. It strikes the ^arth six thousand times a minute. In just the brief period it took you to read this, lightning has struck the earth somewhere a hundred times. There's nothing you can do to make it go away, but there are, for instance, a number of things Americans can do to reduce the 600 fatalities in the U.S. each year and the more than $100 million in. property damage caused by-lightning. The precautions we can take are simple'in-regard to saving our lives and inexpensive in regard to protecting our homes and valuable appliances. For your own protection when caught outdoors in a thunderstorm. here are a few easy rules to follow: avoid hilltops, isolated trees, wire fences or small exposed sheds. At home. --f-- CONTACT LENSES -2M Am YOU . by GEOOGE THOMPSON WHO WEARS CONTACT LENSES? New York (NAPS) - Each year one-half million men, women and children join the growing population of contact lens users. Who are they and what persuades them to put away their specs? Concern for one's personal appearance is the big reason, say officials of Barnes-Hind Ophthalmic Products, makers of contact lens solutions a^nd accessories. Better vision, freedom to participate in sports and freedom from eyeglasses are other reasons for using the modern vision aids. Today's lenses are 8 to 10 millimeters wide (about the size of an aspirin) and made of plastic. Covering the cornea, the part of the eye out of which we see, they float on the natural tear layer. It won't come as a surprise that women head the list of contact lens users, although men are gaining ground. This may be due to newer trends in which male vanity is, unblushi'ngly, here to stay. At least 25 percent of last year's new adult lens users were male. Other things men notice when they put on contact lenses: they can see the faces they are shaving, engage in more sports .activi: ties, and even look down gunsights for the first time. While women may be able to bowl or golf better, more important, they see their makeup work better. Also, hairstyling is uncluttered by eyeglass frames. Women's instinctive patience and willingness to follow instructions, ventured one contact lens specialist, is another reason they outnumber male lens users. Teenagers and pre-teens make up about one-quarter of the new lens population. Their reasons rank close to their elders, except the term "social acceptance" appears. What kinds of eye problems do these people have? Myopia (nearsightedness) is the number one prescription. Astigmatism (wavy, irregular vision) is another frequently corrected problem, followed by hyperopia (farsightedness) and other eve problems. Larry E. Lund -- Publisher y/MEMBERV^ 19 6 9 NEWSPAPER Adele Froehlich, Editor MEMBER AMMNML EWlPflPER Association - Founded 1885 1 Year In McHenry and Lake ^County Subscription Bates . • $7.50 1 Year $9.00 Outside McHenry and Lake County Best Bargain in Town I CAR WASH CENTER THE- CAR KetPtm OTAnmjcA PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT WASH IT NOW I Hot Wash Hot ICinM«> Hot Wax Automated WE WASH: 38 Seconds No waiting Self Service Stay In Car More Soap More Water More Pressure 75$ 25C BAY TRUCK WASH WATCH FOR THE SPINNINQ COIN West Route 120 Next to Phillips *66 And Rudy's Drive-In You can be sure your car won't be a Lemon if you buy it from your friendly Dodge Dealer at Sunnysida, Dodge i in lime fxpoMH'r. occur i <\cry 21 liour> --- or 6,000 stay awav from- open doors and windows, fireplaces, and electrical equipment. Do not take a shower or hath during a thunderstorm and avoid using the telephone. When lightning is striking near your home, don't choosethat moment to unplug appliances. If you do. you are putting yourself in the same danger from which you are seeking to protect your appliances -- a surge of lightning current through t'he house wiring.. It is this danger from lightning surges, rather than a-direi-' t hit by lightning, that causes the most damage in the home. While lightning rods can pro- • tect your home lrom damage Indirect lightning strokes, insurbe caused bv either direct strokes of lightning to the power line, or near misses, both of which can channel thousands of destructive volts of electricity into the electrical wiring of your home. These surges can puncture, burn, melt and destroy any wiring, appliances, and other electrical equipment. You can now protect your house wiring and appliances from lightning surges with an inexpensive home lightning protector. Unlike a fuse, it works over and over again. Most electrical contractors and distributors throughout the U.S. can supply you with the ' Home Lightning Protector. The cost for the device is no more than two good seats at the Astrodome. With the tremendous investment most homes and appliances represent today, and the $50 deductible insurance clause presently in effect in most states, you can't afford not to spend the small amount on a home lightning protector to protect against lightning surges. The $10 cost, plus installation. OVER S100 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE is caused each vcar in the l:. S. bv lightning, and fatalities average 600 each year. a nee statistics reveal that 75% of damage claims resulting from lightning activity are the result of electrical surges. Thev can ERICH DIEZ Erich Diez of Deer field died in McHenry hospital late Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 26, just forty minutes after being admitted. Coroner Ehom will conduct an inquiry. THOMAS P. HOUNTRAS Thomas P. Hountras, 78, of 1917 Park lane, McHenry, died Feb. 26 at Harvard hospital. Mr. Hountras, who was born Nov. 28, 1890, in Greece, had resided in the Lakeland Park area for the past twelve years. He was a barber by trade, self employed, and also had been an upholsterer for the Pullman Co., for fifteen years. Survivors are his wife, Edpa, and four brothers, Rev. Timothy Hountras of New York and three others in Greece. Services will be conducted at 1 o'clock Saturday from Ahlgrim & Sons funeral home, 5701 W. Division street, Chicago, where visitation will be held from 2 until 10 o'clock Friday. Interment will be in Evergreen cemetery, Barrington. MOVING OUT OF THE McHENRY COUNTY AREA? Do you know about our National Multi-List Referral Service? Whether you are moving across the country or just closer in to Chicago, our affiliation with top flight Realtors all over America can help make the transfer painless and worry free by helping you f}nd just the right home for your family. We have samples of Homes for Living booklets in our office from close to 290 National Multi-List Service real estate offices. With these descriptive booklets you can "home shop" in the comfort of your own living room -- looking at pictures and reading descriptions of homes in the very town to which you are moving. When you find "the" horrie where you are going, we can help you sell-the home you're leaving; Let us tell you about our many services. „ And/have/you- heard our daily radio program "Adventures in Real Estate", on WCLR at 11:55 A.M. with informative case studies in all phases of real estate? With offices in Crystal Lake and McHenry, we have a staff of 10 salesmen and brokers who would welcome an opportunity to be of service to you. Just call NORTHERN ILLINOIS REALTY SERVICE, INC. in Crystal Lake -- 459-4440; in McHenry - 385-2340. NORTHERN ILLINOIS REALTY SERVICE NtORPORATED E % 3618 W. Elm St. (Marks Marine Building) on Route 120, McHenry, HI. Associated Listing Service in Crystal Lake, 111. ' Exclusive Listing Service in McHenry, 111. NATIONAL MULTI-LIST SERVICE - Nationwide Shop In McHenry RM5HEP WHATGHA WHAT THINK, 6 * THINK ILL 0OV. WHAT fi&E WU GOttsj' TO CALL IT? CALL IT A LEAACN: 4810 W. Route 120 McHenry, Illinois CEILING TILE The beautiful patterns and textures to be found in ceiling tile make it an ideal ceiling material. EASY TO APPLY AS LOW AS lOt sq. ft NEW IDEAS IN nt* THE COLORS AND MORES OF NAME Top left--Patiofjor; top right--Byickftor; bottom lett--Pirouette (polished stone); bottom right--Pebbleflor. 12"x 12" as low as 17t per tile Ruberoid has brought the out-of-doors into your home to provide you with floors of surpassing beauty. Ruberoid's color experts have captured the full authenticity of these natural materials in practical vinyl asbestos, so economical, so easy to care for, so enduring in its beauty. Variety of handsome colors in each style. Deluxe 12"xl2" dimension. Prefinished PANELING 4' x 7' as low as 4' x 8' as low as $ 1 0 8 $ 0 5 2 per pine per pine ALEXAN LUMBER CO. THE BEST OF EVERYTHING FOR THE BUILDER On Highway 31 South of Main Street - McHenry, Illinois Phone 385-1424 i