Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 5.djvu/738

 726 FEOEBAIi ilEPOSTEK. �Myehs ». Callaghan ànd others. �{Circuit Court, N. D. lUinois. Febru^ry 5, 1881.) �1. CoPTEiGHT— State Rbpobteb. �In the absence of any express legislation by the state indicating a �contrary principle, a state reporter is entitled to a copyright in his �. . volumes of reports for what is the work of his own mind and hand, �notwithstanding it may be true that he can have no copyright in tho �opinions of the court. �2. SAM»rf-CONSTEW3TIOii OF StATUTES. �, The various provisions of law in relation to copyright should have a liberal construction, in order to give eflect to what may be consid- ered the inherent right of the author to his own work. �3. BANKRTJPTCy— BiGHTS OF Bankrupt. �A bankrupt has a right to pursue ail proper legal measures for the the protection of hjs interests until an assignee of his estate has been appointed. — [Ed. �In Chancery. �J.V. Le Moyne, for complainant. �J. L. High ani Thomas Moran, for defendants. "' Dbummond,' C. J. This is a bill filed by the plaintiff àgainst the defendants for an infringement of the rights of the plain- tiff under the copyright laws of the United States. The bill alleges substantially the foUowing facts : Prom 1865 to 1868 the plaiutiff and Horace P. Chaudler conatituted a business firm for publishing law books, and as suoh firm they became the proprietors of TOlumes 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, and 38 of the minois Beports. Norman L. Freeman was the reporter, under the law and by the appointment of the court, of the Tolumes of reports; and the firm purchased ail the proprietary rights of Freeman, and paid him a valuable consideration therefor, he agreëing that the firm should have the copyright of ail said books. The firm published a considerable number of copies of each of said volumes. In 1868 Chandler sold out ail his interest to the plaintiff. The plaintiff was also the proprietor of, and entitled to the copyright in, volumes 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 of the Illinois Eeports, of which Freeman was also the reporter, and from him the plaintiff purchased ail his interest in those volumes. The plaintiff haa ����