Burrow-Giles Lithographic Company v. Sarony

This was a suit for an infringement of a copyright in a photograph of one Oscar Wilde. The defence denied the constitutional right of Congress to confer rights of authorship on the maker of a photograph; and also denied that the surname of the proprietor with the initial letter of his given name prefixed to it (“N. Sarony”) inscribed on the photograph was a compliance with the provisions of the act of June 18th, 1874, 18 Stat. 78. The essential facts appear in the opinion of the court. The judgment below was for the plaintiff. The writ of error was sued out by the defendant.

Mr. David Calman for plaintiff in error.

Mr. Augustus T. Gurlitz for defendant in error.