Literary composition

In copyright law. An original result of mental production, developed in a series of written or printed words, arranged for an intelligent purpose, in an orderly succession of expressive combinations. Keene v. Wheatley, 14 Fed. Cas. 192-; Wool-sey v. Judd, 4 Dner (N. Y.) 396. —Literary property may be described as the right which entitles an author and his assigns to ali the use and profit of his composition, to which no independent right is, through any act or omission on his or their part, vested in another person.

9 Arner. Law Reg. 44.And see Keene v. Wheatley, 14 Fed. Cas. 192; Palmer v. De Witt, 32 N. Y. Super. Ct. 552.

A distinction is to be taken between "literary property" (which is the natural, common-law right which a person has in the form of written expression to which he has, by labor and skill, reduced his thoughts) and "copyright," (which is a statutory monopoly, above and beyond natural property, conferred upon an author to encourage and reward a dedication of his literary property to the public.) Abbott.