Hitler Royalties

Until last March, U. S. readers had never seen an unexpurgated, full-length translation of Hitler's Mein Kampf. Then, simultaneously, two U. S. editions appeared. Publishers Houghton Mifflin,* who owned the copyright, sued Stackpole Sons for piracy. Stackpole refused to haul down their jolly roger. Said they: Hitler's copyright was illegal. Besides, said Stackpole, no royalties from their edition would go to Author Hitler. After preliminary legal skirmishes, a District Court last summer granted a temporary injunction, restraining Stackpole from selling their edition.

Stackpole took the case to the Supreme Court, last fortnight lost their appeal when the Court declined to review a Circuit Court decision authorizing the temporary injunction. U. S. as well as refugee writers hailed the decision as a big victory for honest dealing in international copyright. As soon as the suits for permanent injunction and damages are settled finally, Hitler will get his U. S. royalties. Sales to date (Reynal & Hitchcock edition): 87,000.

* Houghton Mifflin, who published a much-abridged edition in 1933, arranged for publication of the complete edition by Reynal & Hitchcock.

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